HELP is at hand for businesses seeking to comply with new smoke-free legislation in the coming year.

Every workplace, bar and private members' club must be designated as no-smoking zones by the summer of next year.

In an attempt to smooth the transition, primary care trusts (PCTs) and district councils serving north Durham have appointed a smoke-free public places project worker.

Mark den Hollander is already working with many businesses to enable them to meet the deadline.

"The ban is just fantastic, but we now really need to focus on businesses, helping them to understand the legislation," said Mr den Hollander.

"We are able to help them work towards going smoke-free and achieve the National Clean Air Award.

"They may also want to know how to access their local stop-smoking service and get advice and support for their staff in stopping smoking."

He said there were several websites outlining the effect of the legislation, offering free advertising for smoke-free venues.

Among Mr den Hollander's roles is implementing no- smoking policy development and helping companies provide stop-smoking support for their staff.

His services are provided free.

Companies and other organisations meeting the criteria will be eligible for the National Clean Air Award.

Ian Miller, the tobacco control and smoking cessation co-ordinator for the Durham and Chester-le-Street PCT, said: "Whether they employ one person or 1,000 people, every business will need to be smoke-free by summer 2007.

"The lessons we have learned from Ireland were that businesses which prepared and went smoke-free earlier were those that profited from being early birds."

Advice is available via the Smoke-Free North-East website, www.freshne.com or the Smoke-Free Derwentside website, www.smokefree derwentside.org where lists of smoke-free venues, such as shopping centres, restaurants, cafs, pubs and hotels, across the North-East, can be found.

Mr den Hollander is available on (07798) 866375, while Mr Miller can be contacted on 0191-374 4109 and his Derwentside colleague, Barbara Broadfoot, can be contacted on (01207) 219630.