TWO former North-East footballers joined local sports personalities to send out a no smoking message to users of four leisure centres.
Former Sunderland player Eric Gates and Bobby Moncur, who captained Newcastle and Scotland, backed Sedgefield Borough Council's ban on smoking in their sports complexes. From January 2 next year, no-one will be allowed to smoke anywhere in Spennymoor, Shildon Sunnydale, Ferryhill and Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centres.
Borough Mayor Marie Predki said: "This is part of our clean air strategy and will help us make the borough a healthy, active and fulfilling place to live."
Along with providing completely healthy environments for sports and fitness activities the step aims to stop people smoking while in the bars or attending entertainment nights or events.
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