Ten-year-old encourages people to stop smoking (From Borehamwood Times)

Megan, ten, wins Hertsmere poster competition to encourage smoking ban

8:10am Saturday 16th March 2013 in News By Anna Slater

A young artist has launched a campaign to stop people from smoking in play areas in the borough.

Hertsmere resident Megan Reynolds has won a competition to design a poster intended to cut the amount of second-hand smoke passed to children in playgrounds.

The poster will now be displayed in play areas across Borehamwood.

Pupils from across Hertsmere were encouraged to take part in the new campaign and Megan’s colorful design was chosen from around 40 entries.

The ten-year-old said: “One of my cousin smokes and I am trying to get him to stop, because it is bad for you and smells horrid.”

The smoking ban is voluntary so will not be enforced by the council officers.

Councillor Brenda Batten, portfolio holder for leisure and health, hopes the new posters will remind parents and other adults of the impact of smoking on their child’s health.

The campaign was led by the council and supported by the Hertsmere Health and Wellbeing Partnership and NHS Hertfordshire.

As Megan’s prize, she won an A3 copy of her poster and a family ticket to Willows Farm Village and Farm Park in Colney Heath.