Calls For Smoking Ban In Outdoor Public Spaces

Health experts will today call for smoking to be banned in outdoor public spaces like parks and squares.

The Former Health Minister, Lord Ara Darzi, says it's needed to help smokers quit and protect children.

Earlier this month Bristol became the first UK city to enforce such a ban and it looks like Hull could now follow.

The city has more young smokers than anywhere else in the country.

Julia Weldon, Director of Public Health at Hull City Council, says it's something they're currently looking into.

She told Viking FM:

"We want to consider having smoke-free play areas, smoke-free places where families can be together and play together and be out together. Things like our parks and other places where families go together, we would want to consider that. Obviously we would want to consult with our residents about that but it does seem like a good idea.

"Where that has happened it has made a difference as to how people think about smoking and how they think about smoking around children and young people. We do know that it is very difficult for people to give up smoking and we know 70% of our citizens who are smoking do want to give up and we will do everything we can to help them.

"Where we can reduce exposure to tobacco, both in terms of children and young people seeing it and seeing adults doing it and also the harm that smoking has for children and young people when we smoke nearby, we want to tackle that. It's important that we look at every aspect."