SUNDERLAND City Council is urging traders to help it stub out under-age smoking.

The council's health and housing department is to launch a good practice award scheme to recognise shops that ensure that cigarettes are not sold to under-16s.

Stores face fines of up to £2,500 if they are convicted of breaking the law on under-age sales, but many youngsters say they have no problems getting their cigarettes.

Shopkeepers who join the scheme will be given a certificate and advice on how to deal with youngsters wanting cigarettes.

The council's director of health and housing, Bob Bowman, said: "According to one recent national survey, one in ten children aged 11 to 15 now smoke, and only 15 per cent said they had been refused cigarettes the last time they tried to buy them."

A conference outlining the scheme will be held on Tuesday, October 9, at Sunderland Health and Racquet Club between 1pm and 4pm. Shopkeepers wanting to attend should call 0191-553 1705/1706