FIRST there was Captain Condom but he was ditched in favour of Charlie.

Now health chiefs have completely binned the idea of using a controversial character to promote a campaign offering free condoms to children as young as 13.

The gimmick that first saw a caped crusader complete with a superhero costume and a condom-covered head was withdrawn after health bosses felt it wouldn’t fit in with the rest of the campaign.

He was replaced by Charlie Condom who dressed in a giant full length condom.

But both outfits appear to have been consigned to the fancy dress box as neither made an appearance at the official launch of the new ‘c-card’ – a credit card style scheme allowing youngsters aged 13 to 24 to pick up free condoms in Southampton.

Those behind the scheme insisted the character was only ever meant to front the launch and was not intended for further use.

Daily Echo: For a video of the top stories in today's Daily Echo, click the front page.

When asked about its absence, the Daily Echo was told that following the publicity surrounding the character it was decided to drop it from the campaign altogether.

The government-funded scheme allows young people to pick up unlimited batches of ten free condoms over a six-month period from 18 venues.

Youngsters will only be given the c-cards after attending a detailed consultation at contraception and sexual health centres, school and college drop-in session and at the three centres run by No Limits young people’s charity.

However, parenting and religious groups criticised the scheme, and choice of promotion, as inappropriate for impressionable youngsters.

Health bosses from Solent Healthcare, who provide the cards, believe the scheme will help reduce Southampton’s high teenage pregnancy rate and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

Charlotte Bemand, in charge of cutting Southampton’s teenage pregnancy rate, said research showed that young people who were sexually active did not always carry condoms.

“They told us they would like to be able to access condoms in a more convenient and easy manner and the c-card is a response to that.”

She added: “We felt the costume complemented the important work we are doing to promote responsible sexual relationships.

A giant condom costume was only intended to be used as part of the media launch of the c-card scheme. “ Ms Bemand said the scheme was primarily targeted at 16 and 17- year-olds and was part of a wider programme that also included work designed to encourage youngsters to delay having sex.

The scheme comes after Southampton was once again declared the south’s teenage pregnancy capital with nearly 200 under-18s falling pregnant in a single year.