IMAGINATIVE children have come up with a novel idea to stop people smoking - by creating 'Smokebusters'!

Pupils at Winsford Academy hosted an interactive Stop Smoking Summit organised by Swanlow Surgery GP Dr Jonathan Griffiths.

Teenagers joined residents, health professionals, councillors, firefighters and a wide variety of people from different organisations to suggest innovative ways to tackle tobacco addiction.

Anyone was invited to drop in between 10am and 9pm last Thursday to share ideas.

"It was a really great day," said Dr Griffiths, chairman of NHS Vale Royal Clinical Commissioning Group.

"We had lots of people talking, engaging with us and sharing loads of ideas to get Winsford off smoking.

"The best thing was the input from kids at The Academy. It was so different and refreshing. They weren't thinking of obstacles. Their idea was a Smokebusters campaign, a bit like Ghostbusters."

Pupils plan to carry out a survey in the town to analyse the views of smokers.

"They want to find out why people smoke and if they want to stop," said Dr Griffiths. "The kids will ask smokers what support they want. It was good to see the children getting involved. They were a credit to the school.

"They came in small groups and I don't think any of them were smokers but they knew children who were."

A health hub will work with the school council to help pupils to develop their proposal.

Cheshire West Healthwatch is keen to get involved to offer practical support for their survey.

Northwich Guardian:

An interactive Stop Smoking Summit organised by Winsford GP Dr Jonathan Griffiths gave people the chance to discuss lots of different ideas

Another idea from the summit being implemented is a project warning of the damage that can be caused by tobacco addiction, the biggest cause of preventable death, disability and illness.

Smoking causes 16 different forms of cancer and damages every organ in the body.

The idea is for secondary school pupils to deliver workshops to primary schoolchildren.

"We hope to run a campaign called 'lung month' in March around national no smoking day," said Dr Griffiths.

"Another idea was to help smokers to try peer support groups which would be led by an ex smoker who could support them.

"We're hoping that pubs or restaurants will be willing to offer space for that kind of thing. Like-minded people all wanting to do the same thing could support each other."

The charity Motherwell pledged support and wants to help mums and women to quit smoking.

Northwich Guardian:

A wide variety of people from different organisations came together to tackle the high levels of smoking in Winsford

Businesses are also being encouraged to get involved as campaigners plan to visit local employers to offer support to smokers wishing to give up.

"Tobacco is an addiction," added Dr Griffiths. "It may have started as a lifestyle choice but many smokers now feel they don't have any choice and can't stop.

"We don't want to make them feel guilty only offer help."

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Winsford mayor Cllr Ailsa Gaskill-Jones, said: "I thought the summit was an excellent event. It was brilliant to be able to get a range of views and pull together some feasible plans moving forward.

"Special mention to the young people from Winsford Academy who were fabulous and had some fab ideas which I am really hopeful will become reality. Huge credit to Dr Griffiths, colleagues at the CCG and CWAC public health team for organising the event."

Anyone wishing to suggest ideas or get involved in the campaign can contact Dr Griffiths on Twitter @DrJonGriffiths