Signs designed by children asking people not to smoke in playgrounds have gone up around Merton.

The posters are designed by children from the SHINE project, a Saturday school for underprivileged children aged nine to ten and based at Cricket Green School, Mitcham.

Wimbledon Times:

Some of the posters designed by the school children 

Two winning posters were chosen out of 60 entries by Merton Council’s cabinet member for children’s services Councillor Maxi Martin and the cabinet member for adult social care and health, Councillor Caroline Cooper-Marbiah.

The winning posters, designed by 11-year-old Sophie Ann-Morris and eight-year-old Theo Lee-Rhoden will be put on park railings around the borough.

Coun Cooper-Marbiah said: "Children’s health habits are heavily influenced by their parents. If a child’s parent smokes they are three times more likely to do so than someone who comes from a non-smoking household.

"As well as this, second-hand smoke is a serious health hazard. This is why we want to encourage parents to refrain from smoking in areas where children are playing."

Residents living or working in Merton who want support to quit smoking can text the NHS ‘Help2quit’ on 80800.