A DRIVE to promote clean air in Selby's homes has been launched to protect youngsters from the effects of second-hand smoke.

The Smoke Free Homes And Zones scheme is being run by Selby and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Selby District SureStart to encourage parents to stop smoking around their children.

Under the scheme, parents will be asked to make their home, or part of it, smoke-free.

Figures released in November showed Selby had one of the highest rates of lung cancer in North Yorkshire, with 25 deaths per 100,000 people.

That compared with 20 in York and only 16 in Ryedale, but is still below the national average of 28.

Last year The Press - in partnership with the PCT - launched the York, Selby, Easingwold Yes! To Clean Air Campaign to encourage local businesses and organisations to become smoke-free.

Rachel Johns, director of public health at the PCT, said: "The whole family can benefit the minute the home becomes smoke free by reducing the risk of health-related problems for everyone.

"The great thing about this scheme is that parents can build up their smoke-free pledge depending on their individual circumstances.

"By starting with a commitment not to smoke in certain rooms of the house, they can work up to making the whole house completely smoke free."

The scheme was launched yesterday alongside a stop smoking exhibition bus that toured the area's schools including Barwic Parade School, in Selby, Brotherton School and Selby Primary School.

The bus had details of the new scheme for parents, as well as information from North Yorkshire Stop Smoking Service on how to kick the habit.

SureStart workers in the town recently ran a series of sessions with the PCT's smoking cessation team to help parents give up.

Lindsay Green, SureStart health visitor, who is helping to run the new scheme, said: "Following three stop smoking service courses, which we ran with the North Yorkshire Stop Smoking Service, a considerable amount of interest already exists among our families.

"This is very encouraging, and we are keen to join forces again for the benefit of our families and young children."