YOUNGSTERS in council care - including those under the age of sexual consent - are to be given condoms and pregnancy tests.

Lancashire County Council is introducing the policy as part of its role as the youngsters' "corporate parent".

There are about 600 children cared for by the council in East Lancashire, and the measure - a bid to reduce teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases - will not be restricted to over 16s.

Council chiefs say the pregnancy testing kits and condoms, that will not cost the council as NHS funding will be available, will only be supplied in "exceptional" circumstances.

These include where a carer is aware a young person is about to become sexually active but refuses to attend local sexual health services.

The guidelines given to carers say the first priority would be to contact sexual health services or GPs.

Councillor Marcus Johnstone, the county council's cabinet member for children and young people, said: "As a local authority we act as the corporate parent of young people in our care.

"This means we must seek for them everything that a good parent would want for their own children.

"These policies are designed to protect the health and wellbeing of young people in our care, which is our paramount responsibility."

The move has raised some concerns within the church.

Matthew Butler, the Minister of Inghamite Evangelical Church, Fence, said the move was "not ideal", but accepted something had to be done to tackle sexually transmitted diseases.

He said: "There is always a difference between society's idea of sex education and the church's, which talks about birth control in terms of marriage rather than handing out condoms.

"I wouldn't say it was the ideal method, but we don't live in an ideal world where people save themselves for marriage."

The move follows national research revealing looked after children are at far higher risk of becoming teenage parents or having sexual health problems.

Lancashire County Council looks after 630 children in Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley, aged up to 18.

County council carers will be given special training to prepare for the change.

The move will be approved by councillors next week.