LANCASHIRE County Council’s health boss Azhar Ali has authorised an extension of its ‘Smokefree Play’ scheme.

The Nelson South representative approved widening the initiative to the whole of the county area.

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It aims to implement smoke-free playgrounds in all 12 boroughs to reduce child exposure to smoking.

The moved follows Pendle council introducing a voluntary smoke-free code to all outdoor play areas and skate parks in 2010, and Burnley, Hyndburn, Ribble Valley and Rossendale implementing a similar scheme in 2012/13.

Now Coun Ali wants see the other seven boroughs – Chorley, Fylde, Lancaster, Preston, South Ribble, West Lancashire and Wyre – follow suit and ban adults from smoking in or near play areas.

Coun Ali said: “Tobacco smoking is the single largest preventable cause of ill health, premature death and health inequalities in Lancashire.

“Smoking rates remain higher than England as a whole.

“Children and young people in Lancashire continue to take up smoking, thereby replacing those who quit or die from this habit.

“The current ‘Smokefree Play’ scheme, which reduces child exposure to smoking behaviour in areas where they learn and play, is only operating in East Lancashire.

“This proposal to extend the ‘Smokefree Play’ scheme and implement training and information programmes will de-normalise children’s exposure to smoking in play areas.”

Coun Ali authorised an investment of £200,000 over two years to 2016.