Scout leaders will be able to give out condoms and advice to teenagers on resisting pressure to have sex, under new guidance.

Scouts, aged 14 to 18, may be taken on trips to sexual health clinics after advice issued by the Scouting Association.

The new guidance says Scout leaders can give out condoms but "only if they believe the young person is very likely to begin or continue having intercourse with or without contraception".

Contraception can only be offered if without it "their physical or mental health are likely to suffer".

The guidance says leaders should "encourage young people to resist pressure to have early sex" and to talk to their parents or carers but "should be prepared to offer appropriate information" if it is needed.

A visit to, or by, a sexual health clinic may help to "break illusions of what these services are and improve the uptake of advice".

Neil Salter, County Commissioner for the Scouting Movement in Avon, explained "This is not about our leaders providing advice to our members on matters of sexual education; instead it is about our leaders having easy access to contact information for those experts that can provide appropriate advice and information for our membership."

The Scouting Association said young people may feel more comfortable discussing sexual issues in the informal setting of a Scouts group.

Mary Symonds, a 17-year old Explorer Scout from Bristol, said: "Many young people are already sexually active. We do get some information at college, but this usually concentrates on the biology, not issues like emotional pressure.

"It is so much more meaningful to discuss these issues with people of our own age and in an environment we know we can trust.

"It is helpful that the Scout Association is providing this new advice."

Other suggested activities for Explorer Scouts include discussions about how different religions view sex and role-play exercises on learning to say no. The new guidance includes advice for leaders of Scouts of all ages.

Leaders of Scouts aged 10 to 14 are told youngsters may seek advice and should be given information and suitable local contacts. Activities may be planned to ensure youngsters are able to make "safe and informed decisions".

Leaders of Beavers and Cubs – ages six to 10 – are told it is unlikely they will need to take "positive action".

Dr Karla Blee, 25, a trustee on the Avon County Scouts Executive who helped draft the guidance, said: "At a time when 10 per cent of sexually active teenagers are estimated to have a sexually transmitted infection and 50 per cent of teenagers say they do not use contraception, it's absolutely right that the Scout Association gives its young people the information they need to stay safe while ensuring they develop the confidence and self esteem to resist the pressures to become sexually active too early."