COMMUNITY leaders in one North-East town publicly pledged to wage war on smoking yesterday.

In a move timed to coincide with No Smoking Day, Darlington Borough Council leader John Williams, Darlington Partnership chairman Alasdair MacConachie and Darlington Primary Care Trust's director of public health, Dr Nonnie Crawford, took turns to sign a Smoke-Free Charter on behalf of the town.

There are hopes that the charter will help Darlington to become one of the leaders in the region's efforts to reduce smoking and protect non-smokers from second-hand smoke.

The ceremony, in Darlington Market Square, took place 16 weeks ahead of a national ban on smoking in workplaces and substantially enclosed public spaces which will affect thousands of businesses from cafes to pubs and from shops to factories.

It happened as other events to commemorate No Smoking Day took place across the region.

Councillor Williams said: "January 1987 was the last time I threw my packet of fags on the fire.

"I tried to give up many times. Now I am pleased to say we are a non-smoking family."

"Giving up was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.

"Everybody deserves help and I hope we can help those people who want to give up."

Coun Williams praised The Northern Echo for launching its own Make A Fresh Start campaign yesterday.

"It is great that the Echo is doing that. I hope it has an important effect on people's smoking habits," he said.

Mr MacConachie, who is also chairman of the Darlington Local Strategic Parnership, said the coming smoking ban "is going to have the greatest effect on Darlington, whether you are a private individual, an employee or an employer".

Dr Crawford said; "What this charter is about is helping people to give up, and supporting businesses to help their workers give up.

"It can be done but it is really important that we work with our public services and our big employers."

"We look forward to a smoke-free Darlington."

The Northern Echo launched its Make A Fresh Start campaign yesterday to help the people of the North-East prepare for the July 1 smoking ban. The paper will be focusing on Darlington's efforts to prepare itself for the change and how the town is helping people stub out their habit.