Rafael Borja and Carlton Gabbidon will take health advice for men to unusual venues NHS workers are getting ready to give men "health MoT" checks in Oxford pubs.

UK Dads and the Potential Project, based in Greater Leys, are launching the new service for men who rarely go to the doctors.

As well as getting advice and information about conditions that commonly affect men, such as testicular cancer, people who take part in the sessions will be offered tests for diabetes, blood pressure and carbon monoxide levels caused by smoking.

The health workers are expecting to set up between three and six sessions in October and November this year. The sessions could take place in pubs because the group has pledged to travel to their patients. Carlton Gabbidon, co-ordinator of UK Dads and the Potential Project, which is based at Kingfisher Green, in Greater Leys, said: "Men know about cars, and understand the term MoT -- it's a masculine thing.

"We're hoping to do sessions in different locations. We're even looking at getting a bus and going to where the men are, because the problem is often that they can't get to the services.

"It may be that I end up in a pub. If that's where I'm going to meet these guys then that's where I will have to go. It's about going where people need it most.

"I realised there was a need to encourage men to services they sometimes don't take up because of a lack of information. We want to bridge that gap. The whole aim is to get men thinking about their health and lifestyles."

Mr Gabbidon said he developed the MoT programme after working with black fathers.

He said: "I work in schools and youth centres and have come across quite a few dads who often don't have good information around sex and relationships.

"We wanted to do something to not only prevent unwanted fatherhood, but also to give men ways of protecting their health."

The project is being backed by Oxford City NHS Primary Care Trust, which is providing health workers for the scheme.

Senior public health worker Jackie Wilderspin said: "These sessions are a good way of attracting men who don't often take up health services. We were asked to get involved because we can provide staff to do things like blood pressure checks, diabetes tests and carbon monoxide tests."