School children joined forces with firefighters to promote the importance of clean air.

Youngsters from Conifers School in Weymouth worked with crews from Weymouth fire station to educate their community about the importance of clean air.

The initiative, part of Clean air Day 2018, included a poster and colouring competition, with the entries displayed at Asda.

Anne Newell, Watch Manager of Blue Watch, Weymouth Fire Station, came up with the idea of the competition. She said: “The firefighters here at Weymouth were concerned about the air pollution around the schools from vehicles and smoking materials. As children’s lungs are still developing, air pollution can have a bigger impact on children’s health than it does on adults.

“There are a few things you can do to help: Walk or cycle instead of using the car (but don’t forget to wear your cycle helmet), try to avoid routes where you will be sitting in traffic jams and turn the engine off instead of idling. We are delighted that Conifers School have got involved in our competition and are teaching their families and communities that we can all do something small to help with air pollution.”

Seth Why, Head of Prevention for DWFRS says “I was delighted to award the winners of the competition their prizes, kindly donated by Asda and Safewise. It is great to see the children working so hard to help their community. Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service are committed to helping people make safer and healthier choices, all the entries were fantastic and Angel’s poster shows the importance of healthy lungs and the damage smoking and other air pollution can have. We are very thankful to Asda and Safewise for donating prizes and displaying the entries”

The winners were:

  • Reception: Leo and Imogen

  • Year 1: Olivia and Finley

  • Year 2: Tiana and Angel (the over all winner)

  • Year 3: Alesha and Bella

  • Year 4: Bronson and Evelyn & Sophie (joint entry)

  • Year 5: Toby and Jasmin

Anyone who would like information or help to stop smoking can contact Dorset LiveWell on 0800 840 1628 or 01305 233 105.