A WEBSITE urging a north Durham community to go smoke free will be launched tomorrow.

The Smoke Free Derwentside website, the first of its kind in the North-East, will be unveiled on No Smoking Day, by logo competition winner Karl Pitt, aged nine, at Tanfield Lea Junior School.

Karl's winning design has been used in the site.

The site, www.smokefreederwentside.org, will have links to a large number of smoke free resources on a range of topics, from facts on second-hand smoke to the tactics of cigarette companies and smoking in the movies.

Smoke Free Derwentside was launched in July last year to improve health by encouraging policies that reduce the amount of tobacco smoke in the environment.

The website will support this by including a list of smoke free venues in the Derwentside area, such as local schools, venues and businesses, and providing information on any Smoke Free Derwentside events taking place.

The project is a partnership of Derwentside Primary Care Trust (PCT), Derwentside District Council, Sure Start Stanley and West Derwentside, the Community Empowerment Network, Durham County Council Trading Standards, the voluntary sector, and local schools, hoteliers, publicans, leisure services, children and ex-smokers.

It has received some funding from the Derwentside Partnership, through Neighbourhood Renewal Funds, and Derwentside PCT.

Dr Maggie Ireland, chairman of Smoke Free Derwentside, said: "Doctors and scientists have known for many years that smoking cigarettes can increase your risk of heart disease, stroke and lung cancer.

"Now, there is also strong evidence that breathing other people's cigarette smoke, termed second-hand smoke, can also cause stroke, heart disease and cancer."

Anyone in the Derwentside area who would like advice on stopping smoking can contact the Derwentside PCT Stop Smoking Service on (01207) 214 630.