A CHAMPIONSHIP footballer helped launch a campaign to raise awareness of the effects of secondhand smoke on young people.

Central Cheshire Primary Care Trust's Smoke Free Homes - The Early Years project is designed to encourage parents who are smokers to re-think their habit. Through a series of interventions, health work-ers will be encouraging adults to take their smoking away from children and all will be offered support to quit if they want it.

Every year, thousands of children are admitted to hospital as a result of secondhand smoke exposure and Crewe Alexandra hotshot Steve Jones is backing The Early Years campaign launched at Northwich Memorial Hall on Thursday.

Jones' own son Milo was born premature, weighing just 1lb 6oz at 24 weeks, which caused chronic lung disease and heart complications, so he is keen to highlight anything affecting young children.

Rachael Nicholls, project worker, said: 'With the help of joint-working we hope to see a massive reduction in the number of children exposed to secondhand smoke in the home.

'Whilst we want to help and support those parents who wish to stop smoking by referring them into our local service, any parents and carers who cannot quit will be simply encouraged to keep their smoking away from children.'

Previous studies have shown that parental education and resources have an effect on smoking behaviour - in one, exposure to passive smoke fell from 41% to 18%.

Regular exposure to smoke can lead to an increased risk of glue ear, asthma, breathing difficulties and wheezing, chest infections and cot death.