Contraceptives are being issued to pupils at a Bradford school under a ground-breaking health scheme.

Condoms and the morning-after pill plus advice on sexual health, diet, and drugs are available from doctors and nurses for youngsters at lunchtime clinics under the new Tic Tac project. Advice and, where appropriate, contraceptives are dispensed in students' lunch breaks from portable buildings in the playground.

Two of the district's schools are testing out the scheme in a first for the North of England: Oakbank School at Keighley is already participating and Laisterdyke High in Bradford starts next month.

Children who are under the age of legal consent can already get contraceptives and the morning-after pill from a doctors' surgery or family planning centre without their parents finding out.

But the new scheme makes it easier for them to seek the help they need, by providing it in the playground. If it is deemed a success other secondary schools in the district could follow suit.

The scheme is only in its infancy in Bradford but take-up at Oakbank has already been higher than predicted.

Oakbank head teacher John Roberts said he was delighted that so far 90 students, more boys than girls, had so far taken advantage of the service.

He said less than ten per cent of the pupils had gone for sexual advice. The rest had sought help and advice on smoking, alcohol, drugs and diet.

The lunchtime sessions at Oakbank on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday take place in a portable building on the school site and pupils are seen by a family doctor or a nurse trained in family planning.

They are open to all pupils aged 11 to 18 and are confidential.

No teachers are involved in the sessions or in dispensing advice or contraceptives.

Mr Roberts said: "We are very glad to be piloting an extra service for our students. They either see a doctor or a nurse trained in family planning, and they have private confidential conversations."

Comparing the present day with his own schooldays in Blackpool, the 61-year-old said: "Young people these days face greater temptations and harder decisions than in my generation. Some of them need help and advice."

At Laisterdyke, teacher Lynne Harrison said: "Young people today have lots of problems and pressures, and often find it difficult to access information and advice.

"This centre will provide a safe place for students to seek information and advice from a variety of professionals."

The Tic Tac centres are being run jointly by the schools, Education Bradford, Bradford Council and the primary care trusts.