A CAMPAIGN aimed at protecting children by reducing their exposure to people who smoke has been rolled out at the Victoria Park Experience (VPX) events.

As part of the Smokefree Summer campaign, visitors have been banned from smoking at the event, which take place every Tuesday in August.

Demand for smokefree events is high in Warrington, according to a new survey. 

A total of 89 per cent of people in the town questioned were supportive of smokefree outdoor events for children and families with only 1 per cent opposed. 

Cllr Maureen McLaughlin, executive board member for public health and wellbeing, said: “We are committed to tackling the harms caused by tobacco in our communities, especially to children, and want to see more healthy, smokefree family-friendly events in our area. 

"We have joined smokefree summer to help increase the number of family events we see promoting a smokefree policy and hope that more local organisers change their policies to protect children.” 

Smokefree Summer has been co-ordinated by local social enterprise Tobacco Free Futures.

Andrea Crossfield, chief executive of Tobacco Free Futures said: “Young people consistently overestimate the prevalence of smoking with 60 per cent thinking it’s the ‘norm’, when in reality four out of five people don’t smoke in the north west.

"This isn’t about protecting children from secondhand smoke in outdoor spaces, rather its promoting healthy behaviour to children. 

"The more events that become smokefree, the less likely children are to take up smoking."