SHOPPERS in Bishop Auckland were shown the way to a healthier lifestyle by a team of experts this week.

Staff from Durham Dales Primary Care Trust (PCT) offered advice to visitors at the Newgate Centre on Thursday and asked them what help they needed to become fitter and healthier.

The thoughts of shoppers, including calls for more smoking bans in public places, will be used by the Government to produce a health plan for the nation.

The main theme of the event was stopping smoking, because the centre became a smoke-free zone after a £2m refurbishment.

Shoppers were offered breath tests to measure the carbon monoxide in their blood, which forces the heart to work harder, increasing the risks of heart disease and blocked arteries. Many were shocked by the high readings.

Smoking cessation expert Catherine Goodwin said: "It is good that smoking is banned in the mall to reduce risks of passive smoking and make it easier for people to quit.

"It is still a big problem in Wear Valley, but Durham Dales PCT is the only trust in the county meeting national quitting targets."

Smoking cessation clinics are held in all local GP practices and a free clinic is held in Woodhouse Close Leisure Centre, Bishop Auckland, every Thursday, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

Specialists in areas such as men's health, sexual health and physical activity for older people also attended to tell people about the trust's work and services in the community.

The Durham Dales trust worked with town centre manager Derek Toon and mall manager Dave Wilson to organise the event.

The trust joined forces with The Northern Echo, Wear Valley District Council and Northumbrian Water, to try to reduce the number of deaths from heart disease through the A Chance to Live campaign.