DURHAM City Council has gone totally smoke free and won a Gold National Clear Air Award.

The smoke-free provisions, which came into force yesterday, will not stop at the doors of the Town Hall, in Market Place, Durham, or the doors of any of the council-owned facilities across the city.

The policy will include surrounding grounds, car parks, and council-owned vehicles, as well as leisure centres, communal rooms and the Gala Theatre.

As the grounds around all council buildings will be smoke-free, that allows them to receive the Gold National Clean Air Award, founded by the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, for each of its 43 sites in the city.

The city has now received more than 100 clean air awards, which is regarded as milestone in protecting the health of about 6,500 workers from the dangers of secondhand smoke.

The move by the council in providing a smoke-free environment - introduced yesterday - will result in nearly all local authority premises in north Durham, which includes City of Durham, Chester-le-Street and Derwentside, being smoke free.

Durham City's portfolio holder for environment and leisure, Councillor Grenville Hollander, who has been at the forefront of the move towards providing smoke-free environments, said that by qualifying for the gold award, the city was showing its commitment to the health of its residents by ensuring protection for workers at all sites.

Iain Miller, tobacco control and smoking cessation co- ordinator for Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Health Trust, said: "Some people may query why we are asking people to refrain from smoking in the outdoor areas of these buildings, but public opinion is in favour of smoke-free public places, as shown by a recent survey by Smoke Free North East.

"Durham City Council's commitment to improve the health of everyone in the locality should be congratulated. The council really is leading by example and should be congratulated for its stance in protecting the health of people in their area."

Mark den Hollander, smoke-free public places project worker for Smoke Free North Durham Alliance, said: "The support by officials for ensuring that their premises and grounds are smoke-free across North Durham has been overwhelming."