CHILDREN at a Darlington primary school have been making their views known on a controversial topic.

The year six pupils at North Road Primary School have written to The Northern Echo with their views on proposals to ban smoking in public places.

The letters were written after the pupils learned about persuasive writing and the use of formal language in their English lessons.

Teacher Alison Mitchell decided they should write about something topical and send the finished letters to The Northern Echo.

She said: "We actually set it as a homework topic and they produced some quite impressive letters.

"A lot of them went and spoke to members of their own family and got their opinions.

"So we got a mixed bag of views although most of them agree with the ban."

The letter writers included ten-year-old Katie Shields who said: "My opinion is that, yes, smoking should be banned in all public places because it can damage other people's health as well as the smokers'. A lot of the time it gets in your hair and clothes and makes them smell like an ashtray which is not a pleasant smell at all."

Courtney Duncan, ten, wrote: "It is immoral to make children breathe in toxic fumes that will cause disease.

"So let us ban smoking in public to avoid this from ever happening."

And here are the views of some of the students

Smoking is being banned in public, but why is this?

Nowadays, many people are complaining about the toxic fumes caused by smoking.

But this is a free country not a dictatorship.

Banning smoking would restrict the freedom of smokers, who have the right to choose what they want to do.

However, many smokers say that passive smoking is unproven to cause any risk to anyone's health.

A recent ex-smoker has this to say: "I have smoked since a young age, at that time everyone smoked, adverts on the TV encouraged us to smoke.

"At that time nobody knew the dangers of smoking."

In pubs and clubs they should have a special room to smoke in so that smokers can enjoy a cigarette in peace.

The government make millions of pounds out of smokers with the tax they charge on each packet of cigarettes.

If they ban smoking altogether where would all the millions come from?

As for the medical treatment, every person whether a smoker or non-smoker is entitled to the same care. What do you think?

Amy Louise Allfrey, aged 11.

I am writing to tell you what I think about smoking in public places.

I think it should be banned in restaurants because when people are eating it is coming in their direction and isn't pleasant for them.

Passive smoking is far worse than smoking your self.

People wish to go out and enjoy their time in comfort without smoke and an area should be provided for them, then everyone would be happy.

Katie Bland, aged ten

I am writing to inform you that I am disgraced that there are over 12 million smokers in the UK, which I think is appalling and damaging our health.

Firstly, if smokers want to smoke they should have places away from the public.

Secondly, I think they should not be allowed to smoke near children. I also feel that they should have help to quit by being given free nicotine patches and horrible images of the effects of smoking printed on large posters and on packets of cigarettes.

Lastly, I think they should make them so expensive that the smokers couldn't afford them. I hope you agree with some of my points.

Olivia Brown, age ten.