YOUNG patients at Burnley General Hospital drew pictures to push the no smoking message and were presented with Burnley Football Club goodies by players Chris Brass and Brian Reed.

Chris Duckworth, enrolled nurse on the children's ward, worked with the youngsters and parents to give one-to-one advice and information on smoking.

Children then took part in a wide-range of activities to tie in with this year's theme of 'take the plunge' and they watched videos, filled in questionnaires and joined in poster competition.

The posters were then out on display in the children's ward.

Chris said: "The display has made the children think about the issues around smoking and it may even have influenced some of the smokers to stop."

Sara Schofield and Charlotte Cowgill won the poster competition and Sara was presented with two tickets to watch the Clarets while Charlotte won a signed Burnley Football Club shirt.

A new government white paper on tobacco called Smoking Kills highlighted young people and children as groups which need to be targeted.

The paper found 82 per cent of smokers started as teenagers and someone who starts aged 15 is three times more likely to die of cancer due to smoking than someone who starts in their mid-20s.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.