THERE'S something about the first really sunny day of the year that strikes a dagger of fear into the hearts of women across the world.

I know I'm not alone in this.

When the mercury hits 23 degrees and 19-year-old girls strip down to their cut-off denims and bikini tops the internal rage of thousands of women hangs in the air.

And the lifesize pictures of models frolicking in swimwear in every shop window don't help either. You can't go down any High Street without seeing Mylene Klass and her flat tummy staring out at you from Marks & Spencers window.

Men, on the other hand, don't seem to have this fear.

The problems that summer clothes bring for women: exposed bingo wings, bulging muffin tops and back fat, may as well be a foreign language for men.

They view a sunny day as an opportunity to strip to the waist (the bigger and whiter the jelly-belly the better), and sit in a beer garden all day sinking pints.

It's times like this that I always vow to take advantage of local schemes and projects aimed at helping the community become healthier. Lots of people moan about a nanny state but I think efforts by the council and the primary care trust to cajole us off the couch and get us ship-shape for summer are to be applauded.

Staff from East Lancashire Primary Care Trust were on hand to talk to shoppers about making healthy choices at Accrington Market this week, and a health programme designed to curb obesity levels in Burnley and Pendle should be starting in August.

There's plenty of opportunity for exercise too. Council-run leisure centres offer free activities for kids over the holidays and there're plenty of free group walks to encourage those who want to get fitter.

And of course, the biggest force-feeding of good sense to the masses in years is due to come into force in 10 weeks and four days.

Yes, those of you who are also giddy with excitement at the prospect of being able to sit in a pub or restaurant without coming out stinking like Waynetta Slob's ashtray will know I am talking about the smoking ban, coming into force on July 1.

From that magic Sunday it will be illegal to smoke in public places, the single most sensible decision the government has made in years, as far as I am concerned.

Smokers, understandably, aren't so thrilled at the new legislation, and working men's clubs in East Lancashire have reportedly called the plans "ridiculous" saying custom will be affected.

I don't think so. I spent the weekend in Wales where the public smoking ban is already in force, and have spent time around the pubs and clubs of Dublin which also has the ban. If anything, smokers were begrudg-ingly admitting they liked the new rules.

They said it helped them cut down on fags and a newfound spirit of camaraderie had been bred between smokers who huddled outside together in smoking shelters.

I suspect the same thing will happen over here. Or better still, why don't the smokers out there consider taking advantage of the changes and quit smoking for summer?

If we really want to become fitter and healthier for summer, the help is out there.