YOUNGSTERS have used their artistic talents to encourage smokers young and old to kick the habit.

Twenty members of Bowburn Youth Project created a colourful cloth banner that features a cigarette being cut by scissors and traffic lights suggesting that people can give up and get on with their lives.

The artwork was produced after the nine to 16-year-olds, who go to Durham Johnston School and Bowburn Junior School, were given lessons by health workers about the damaging effects of smoking.

For their efforts, the youngsters were given £50, which they donated to the Imperial Cancer Research Fund rather than out into the project's funds.

The banner, which is on display at the youth centre, will also be used by the health workers when they hold future health promotion events.

Youth worker Sue Antrobus said that the youngsters were "horrified" when they learned about the diseases, including cancer, that smoking can cause.

"They were concerned about their parents of grandparents smoking and about peer pressure to smoke," she said.

"Not that many of them smoke - it is about getting the message to them about smoking before they start. Of course, in that age group smoking is on the increase among young women."

She added: "The youngsters really used their imagination and artistic skills, demonstrating that health education can be fun."

The project meets twice a week. As well as activities such as sport, it has curriculum covering topics such as sex education and conservation.

The youngsters are currently involved in making nesting boxes for owls.