TWO-thirds of schools in Bury are protecting their pupils from the danger of second-hand smoke by being declared officially smoke-free.

Since October, 12 more schools have eliminated smoking from its buildings and grounds as Bury Primary Care Trust (PCT) aim to have all 81 schools free from smoking by 2006.

It now means that 65 per cent of schools across the borough are smoke-free, including Woodhey, Prestwich and Elton High Schools which join Philips High in Whitefield and Parrenthorn High in Prestwich as smoke-free secondary schools.

Rachel Zammit, joint smoke-free schools co-ordinator for Bury PCT, said: "This demonstrates how seriously teachers and pupils are about improving health and the environment in their work place. Many of the schools have been quick to adapt to the changes the initiative has imposed and teachers have been very supportive, acting as role models to pupils."