A SCHOOL is taking action to stub out smoking and help fight heart disease.

Whitworth Park School and Sixth Form College, in Spennymoor, has set up an anti-smoking group to raise awareness of the risks of smoking and help smokers to give up cigarettes.

The group, established by PE teacher Dee Donoghue, held a no smoking week to coincide with national No Smoking Day in March.

A smoking clinic set up during the week proved such a success it has become a regular session that is attended by the school nurse.

The week of activities also included a tuck shop, red nails and lips day and a non-uniform day which raised £935.41 for the British Heart Foundation.

The group has also created action plan to tackle smoking and put support measures in place, which has seen Whitworth Park become the first secondary school in County Durham to be awarded Enhanced Healthy Schools status in a national Government-led scheme.