A SURVEY has revealed strong public support for banning smoking in public places in Derwentside.

One thousand people were quizzed about their views on smoking and were asked who should be protected from second-hand smoke.

Support was strongest for venues frequented by children. Support was also high for smoke free restaurants, 79 per cent, shopping malls, 75 per cent, community centres, 73 per cent, and offices, 71 per cent.

Just over half thought pubs should be smoke free and just under half thought that clubs should be smoke free. The majority supported restricting smoking in workplaces and enclosed public places.

Just over half thought that second-hand smoke was a problem for workers that were exposed to it with 53 percent thinking it was a serious problem.

Dr Maggie Ireland, chairman of Smoke Free Derwentside, said local people were quite rightly concerned about the effect of second-hand smoke and saw it as a serious problem for people who have to breathe it at work.

"You do not have to be a smoker to suffer from a smoking related diseases and you can even die from breathing other peoples cigarette smoke," she said.