The children's commissioner said sex education needs debating

The survey of 14-year-olds for magazine Bliss found 22% in the UK had had sex underage - 23% in Wales and South West.

In Wales and the South West, 23% had had sex with four partners on average - in the UK three - with 75% having a one night stand and 86% unprotected sex.

Children's Commissioner Peter Clarke said the figures were "alarming".

He said it was clear teenagers needed more support in learning about sex.

We need not only to talk about the biology of sex but need to be more willing to go into the emotions that go with it, like self-esteem Children's Commissioner Peter Clarke

Across the UK, the magazine questioned 2,000 teenage girls with an average age of 14-and-a-half.

Eighty-three per cent of girls in Wales and the South West said they had "had sex while they were drunk" - far above the UK figure of 60%.

In this region, 85% of girls who had had sex said they had not used protection - 20% more than the UK average and the highest in the country - and 75% had had a one-night stand, compared to 45% in the UK.

More girls in Wales and the South West said they had had a bad sexual experience than any other region - 65% compared to a UK average of 49%.

OF THE GIRLS IN WALES AND SOUTH WEST HAVING SEX 75% had a one night-stand 85% had unprotected sex 65%had a bad sexual experience 54% wish they lost their virginity to someone else 83% had sex while drunk 5% had contracted a sexually transmitted infection 36% had cheated on a boyfriend

Also, more girls in this region said they wished they had lost their virginity to someone else - 45% against and 39% average for the UK.

Mr Clarke said: "I am very alarmed, as most adults would be, about 14-year-olds having sex."

He said the way in which sex education was taught to youngsters in Wales needed to be looked into and called for a more open discussion.

"The whole issue of how we teach sex education and give support to young people is something that we need a debate on," he added.

"Teenagers needed to be given information on sex in non-patronising and non-preaching ways.

Peter Clarke says there should be a debate on sex education

"We need not only to talk about the biology of sex but need to be more willing to go into the emotions that go with it, like self-esteem.

"Quite clearly, if we're going to change the content of sex education that is an issue which needs to be taken from the school to the assembly."

A Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson said they were waiting to see a report and any recommendations by the school's inspectorate Estyn into sex education in Welsh schools.

The report was due to be published by the end of April.

"Sex and relationship education is about understanding the importance of stable and loving personal relationships, respect, love, care and the building of successful relationships with friendship groups and the wider community," added the spokesperson.