More women will become infertile if sex education is not taught in schools, due to the “ticking time bomb” of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), a town hall chief has warned.

The Local Government Association (LGA) has called for the subject to be compulsory in all schools, arguing that it is a “major health protection” issue.

"The lack of compulsory sex and relationship education in academies and free schools is storing up problems for later on in life, creating a ticking sexual health time bomb, as we are seeing in those who have recently left school," Izzi Seccombe, chairman of the LGA's community wellbeing board said. "This is a major health protection issue."

She added that there was a "shockingly high" number of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) diagnosed in teenagers and young people.