A TOURING pantomime which sends a No Smoking message to dales youngsters has won a runner-up spot in a national award.

The Durham Dales Primary Care Trust (PCT) production was nominated for the Association of Health Care Communicators award in the Health Inequalities and Public Health category.

Co-ordinated by smoking cessation advisor Dawn Hull, it involves health visitors, school nurses and other primary care trust staff, Durham Constabulary and County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Brigade.

The pantomime has been performed in primary schools around Wear Valley and Teesdale for the past few years.

Dawn Hull said: "Every year in the UK 120,000 smokers die and 450 children start smoking.

"We want to reinforce the message of national No Smoking Day in a fun way - that it is better not to start smoking.

"The children across the Durham Dales who have seen the panto have thoroughly enjoyed it and we are looking forward to taking the show on the road again this year."

Andrew Kenworthy, the Durham Dales Primary Care Trust's chief executive, said: "The PCT hopes to help reduce the number of children and young people in the Durham Dales that start smoking.

"People who become regular smokers when they are young are putting their health at greater risk."