MORE pubs, restaurants and offices are to be encouraged to ban smoking.
Public health bodies and councils throughout north Durham have formed a partnership to encourage establishments to ban smoking in enclosed public places.
Durham City Council, its neighbour Chester-le-Street District Council and the primary care trusts covering Durham and Chester-le-Street, and Derwentside have joined forces for the project.
Specialist project worker Mark Den Hollander has been recruited to promote measures to control smoking and encourage businesses to take part in the national Clean Air Awards scheme.
Councillor Grenville Holland, the leader of Durham City Council, said: "This is an important initiative that will help improve the environment of our pubs, clubs and restaurants and make them more acceptable to the 75 per cent of us who do not smoke.
"Furthermore, it will prevent passive smoking by those who work in enclosed environments and those who use them.
"The city council is giving this initiative its full backing."
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