Nottinghamshire County Council and New Leaf Stop Smoking Services took the message of No Smoking Day to Sure Start children’s centres across the county with a competition to produce the best no-smoking display.

The display created by New Woods Children’s Centre, Skegby, was voted the best of the 13 centres that took part.

The centre worked with parents and carers to create the ‘V for victory’ themed No Smoking Day promotion.

Lucy Ball, public health manager for the council said: “People are usually well aware of the dangers of smoking, but sometimes need a prompt to take that next stage of actually making an attempt to quit.

“Often, having a family can be that all important spur, either in terms of making sure that you’re around to see them grow up, or the desire to protect your children from being exposed to smoke. That’s why children’s centres are a great place for us to let smokers know about the support that’s available to help them quit.”

Research shows that people who use specialist support to help them stop smoking are four times more likely to be successful than those who try to ‘go it alone’, while children who grow up with parents that smoke are three times more likely to take up the habit themselves.

Andy White, health improvement practitioner for Nottinghamshire Children and Families Partnership, which delivers Sure Start children’s centres said: “The competition was a great way of not only raising the profile of No Smoking Day to the families we serve but also helped staff, volunteers, parents and carers work together to produce a fantastic range of different displays.”

Smokers who want help in quitting can contact New Leaf on 0800 389 7712, text ‘leaf’ to 80800, or contact their local GP or pharmacy.