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Gay men who have illegal sex in public are being offered a support service and free condoms paid for by taxpayers.

NHS Ayrshire & Arran provides “outreach support” for those who visit dogging sites, a health report has revealed.

It is part of a ‘dedicated gay men’s service” giving one to one support and internet contact costing £45,000 a year.

Fullarton Woods, Prestwick seafront and Greenan Shore at Doonfoot are some of the notorious outdoor sex venues in South Ayrshire.

The whole of Ayrshire has a whopping 46 alfresco sex hotspots according to website Swinging Heaven.

The NHS advice service for gay sex doggers was highlighted in a report from the board’s director of public health Dr Carol Davidson.

The document, which outlined the state of Ayrshire’s health, described the dogging guidance as “valuable.”

It said: “NHS Ayrshire & Arran commission a dedicated gay men’s service, providing one to one support, outreach support for men who frequent public sex environments, as well as internet outreach. This is a valuable service to prevent the spread of disease among men who have sex with men and who do not access specialist sexual health services. The service also provides free condoms by post to men who have sex with men.”

Dr Davidson’s annual report for 2016 was presented to South Ayrshire Council’s Community Planning Board in March.

Lynne McNiven, public health director, said: “NHS Ayrshire & Arran commissioned a third sector agency in January 2013 to engage with men who have sex with men. This service specifically aims to offer support and to prevent the transmission of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections in men who have sex with men. The cost of this service is £45,000 per year.”

She said the men are at the greatest risk of HIV infection.

Online portal Swinging Heaven categorised Ayrshire as the second top county for dogging in Scotland.