Scientists in Edinburgh are looking for couples keen to try out a new contraceptive jab for men.

The team from Edinburgh University reckon they have found a method which could prove more effective than condoms.

Made up of a combination of hormones, the new jab would need to be taken every two months.

It is designed to significantly lower the man's sperm count. The team behind the jab say it would be highly effective for a period, but would also be entirely reversible.

They hope the method will become more widely available following successful trials and say it could provide an alternative to the pill and even come to be more commonly used than condoms.

However, the scientists need couples who are willing to try out the injections in a year long international trial.

They are looking for 20 couples from the South East of Scotland to take part in the World Health Organisation test. They will be part of a group of 400 couples from across Europe, Asia, South America and Australia.

Professor Richard Anderson of Edinburgh University's reproductive and development sciences division said: "We think there are men who are interested in this, who would want to use a new method and so would want to take part in these studies.

"It's not going to suit everybody but then one of the whole problems here is that there are lots of methods around already but women often find that none of them suit them. So there really is a need for more methods."

The study is looking to recruit couples where the man is aged under 45 and the woman is under the age of 37.