PARRENTHORN High has become the second high school in the borough to go smoke-free.

The Prestwich school was presented with a certificate from Bury Mayor and Mayoress, Councillors Barry and Sharon Briggs, marking its new status, which it now shares with Philips High in Whitefield.

The new smokefree zone applies both inside and outside in the school grounds

Parrenthorn Highs new status now means there are 42 smokefree schools in the whole of the borough 40 of them being primary.

Bury Primary Care Trust (PCT) is working to have all 82 schools declared smokefree by 2006.

Rachel Zammitt, joint smokefree schools project co-ordinator for Bury PCT said: "Parrenthorn High School closed its smoking room before the summer holidays.

"With the support of staff and pupils, they have successfully managed to make the school buildings and the grounds smokefree areas."

She added: "The example set by Philips and Parrenthorn High Schools has generated a lot of interest from other schools, and Bury's Stop Smoking Service is urging other schools who want to work towards a smokefree status to get in touch. The Stop Smoking Service is keen to help all schools achieve this important goal."

Her colleague Claire Probert added "Teachers in Parrenthorn are showing their determination to discourage their pupils from starting to smoke. Even those teachers who smoke are behind this and have all been trying to stop smoking. The teachers know that children look to see if teachers do what they say."