PRIMARY schoolchildren in Southend are encouraging grown-ups to stop smoking at the school gates.

Greenways Primary School, in Southchurch, want parents and carers to get behind the scheme, aimed at improving children’s health.

“Smokefree School Gates” was announced in June 2019, after initially being created and successfully implemented by Action on Smoking with Health Wales.

A ten-foot banner was unveiled on Friday October 4, promoting Greenways’ smoke-free expectations at their school gates.

Pupils at the school have also created a video to publicise the campaign.

Councillor Trevor Harp, cabinet member for health and adult social care said: “Greenways Primary School signing up to the Smokefree School Gates campaign is a step in the right direction for encouraging healthy environments, raising pupil awareness of healthy lifestyles and encouraging our community to help make Southend smoke free.

“Second-hand smoke can significantly harm the health of a child, increasing the risk of respiratory problems.

“When I met and spoke to the children on Friday and from what was said by pupils in the recently released video, attendees of Greenways Primary are pleased that their school has been chosen to become a pilot for the project.”

October is a month with special significance for stopping smoking with the Stoptober challenge in full swing.

Stoptober is a national 28-day stop smoking challenge from Public Health England that encourages and supports smokers across the country to quit for good.

The campaign is based on the insight that if you can stop smoking for 28-days, you are five times more likely to be able to stop smoking for good.

You can view the video on Facebook with the following link: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2978581759034551