The survey found many girls regretted their sexual encounters

Half of the sexually active girls said they regretted the experience, while 70% of all girls wanted more advice.

Overall, 7% said teachers gave useful information about sex and 57% had not discussed it with their parents.

Bliss magazine, which surveyed 2,000 girls with an average age of 14.5, said its findings were "extremely worrying" - particularly the number of partners.

Editor Lisa Smosarski said: "Peer pressure from their friends plays a great role in this - they are desperate not to be the last virgin in school, but often they are not emotionally mature enough to deal with the situation."

Jan Barlow, chief executive of sexual health charity Brook, said the survey "confirms a desperate need among young people for better information about sex and relationships".

Unprotected sex

Almost half of the girls questioned (44%) said they relied on magazines for information about sex, while one third (32%) got advice from friends.

Many of the girls surveyed had unprotected sex

The findings suggested that 22% of them had had sex.

Of these 65% had had unprotected sex, while almost half had had a one-night stand (45%) and over half (55%) had sex more than once a month.

Only 6% did not have sex again after their first experience.

The survey found alcohol was a major contributing factor, with 60% admitting they were drunk when they first had sex.

Love and affection

The majority of girls questioned held traditional views on marriage and tradition.

It's vital they get information about avoiding sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy Jan Barlow from sexual health charity Brook

Almost all (94%) said they wanted to get married by the time they were 25, and 89% said they wanted to get married before they had children.

Regionally, girls in Yorkshire were the most likely to have had sex, with 34% of them admitting they had lost their virginity.

Girls in Wales and the south west of England admitted to having the most partners, four, while 86% said they had had unprotected sex.

The vast majority of girls questioned (94%) said love and affection was more important to them than sex, the survey said.

'Informed decisions'

"This survey shows that teenagers really are new traditionalists - they want to get married and have children first, yet they are having sex earlier and often under the influence of alcohol," said Lisa Smosarski.

Jan Barlow said the survey highlighted "the pressures young people face from their peer group".

She said: "It's vital they get information about avoiding sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy.