A QUIT smoking campaign is being launched by Wrexham County Borough Council on National No Smoking Day.

Wrexham's Smoke-Free Register will be officially launched on Wednesday, March 8.

The register will include upto-date information of every venue in the County Borough that is committed to nosmoking provision.

A gold standard award will be given to totally smoke-free premises and a silver standard to those that can clearly demonstrate that they separate non-smoking from smoking areas.

The register will be available to the public at council offices or online at the www.wrexham.gov.uk website.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service will also be present, offering advice and information on the dangers of fires caused by cigarettes.

Paul Whybro, Wrexham County fire safety manager said: 'Over the last four years, 86 people in North Wales have died or were injured as a result of a fire caused by cigarettes.

'We are encouraging people to give up smoking and reduce the risk of fatal house fires as well as improving their health - our message is for them to 'Put it out. Right out.''

If you want to quit there will be displays dotted around town where advice will be available, at community pharmacies, GP practices, NEWI, the North East Wales NHS Trust and Catherine Gladstone House Diabetes Centre.

On Tuesday, March 7 NEWI students will be shown a red card if they are caught smoking by the student union.

Those students seen smoking will also be offered free health screening to help them quit.

Health screening and advice will be available between 10am and noon at Sainsbury's on March 8 and at Kwik Save in Wrexham town centre on March 9 between 10am and noon.

Everyone who is screened between March 6 and 10 will receive free entry into a prize draw for a month's free gym membership to any Wrexham Council fitness centre, a meal voucher for £50 in the Pant yr Ochain - Wrexham's first nonsmoking pub, or a £25 meal voucher at the Dao Siam -Wrexham's first non-smoking restaurant.

The prize will be drawn at half time at the Racecourse when Wrexham play Bury on March 11.

Also during half time the winner of a school poster competition will draw the prizes. nFor further information about giving up smoking or the no smoking events contact Fiona Sammut from Wrexham's Health Promotion Team on 01978 297063.