COUNCIL bosses in Hyndburn are looking to make every one of their events smoke-free as they bid to improve the borough’s infant mortality rates.

Smoke-free playgrounds, where parents and passers-by can’t light up, are already the norm across the area.

But now councillors are giving their backing to moves which could see cigarettes discouraged at all activities involving the authority.

Ben Caulfield, overview and scrutiny officer, said: “Infant mortality is a sensitive measure of the overall health of a population. It provides an important measure of the wellbeing of infants, children and pregnant women.”

A total of 56 cases of infant mortality were recorded in Hyndburn between 2006 and 2015, with 70 per cent occurring in the poorest 20 per cent of the borough. This did represent an improvement on the rate from 2004 to 2006.

Cllr Munsif Dad, cabinet member for health and communities, said in a report: “We understand that this would only be a voluntary code but this has proved successful with play areas so could potentially be replicated for events.”

Under proposals verified by the borough’s executive, it has been suggested that more officer time could be devoted to initiatives focusing on infant mortality prevention.

And even though smoking cessation services are handled by Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, town hall chiefs are writing to leading figures to stress they remain a priority in Hyndburn, despite ongoing pressures concerning budgets.

County council public health officials will also be approached to see what advice they can offer as the borough seeks to improve its awareness of infant mortality factors.

The cabinet has also backed moves to further investigate the possible causes of unexpected child deaths in the worst-affected wards.