A project encouraging men having their cars serviced to have regular 'sexual health MoTs' has won first prize and £1,000 in a nationwide competition.

South Staffs MESMEN project, based in Lichfield, Staffordshire, has won the National Durex Innovation in Sexual Health Award 2004 with its project targeting men through local MoT stations.

With the slogan 'old banger or sporty new model, everyone needs an MOT', the campaign encourages men to treat themselves the same way they would treat their cars and have a 'sexual health MoT' at GUM (genito urinary medicine) clinics in the Lichfield area.

“We've had a very good response to the project,” says Scott Omerod MESMEN project health promotion officer. “The humorous element of the campaign has encouraged men to engage with the idea in a way that a purely factual campaign might not.”