A PROJECT that encourages businesses to introduce smoke-free areas is proving to be a breath of fresh air.

More than 130 businesses signed up to the latest Sunderland Smoke Free Air Guide, now in its third year.

The guide, by Sunderland City Council and Sunderland NHS Teaching Primary Care Trust, lists restaurants, hotels, guest houses, sports centres and other public buildings across Wearside that provide smoke free areas.

Health promotions officers hope it will prove popular with the public and encourage other businesses to follow suit.

Senior council environmental health officer Susan Goodchild said: "Breathing other people's smoke is known to increase non-smokers' risk of lung cancer.

"Passive smoking can also cause nose, throat and chest irritations, coughing, sneezing and running eyes and headaches. It can also aggravate asthma and bronchitis.

"More than 70 per cent of the adult population of the UK are non-smokers and there is now strong support for restricting smoking in public places. Even smokers support complete bans on smoking in certain public places. The guide is intended for people who don't want to risk their health being affected by passive smoking or who simply don't want to be irritated by other people's smoke.''

Premises that are completely smoke-free receive a gold award, those with designated no-smoking areas a silver, and those with smoke-free areas at certain times, a bronze award. The guide also includes holders of the Council's Heartbeat Awards. For more information call 0191-553 1705.