PLAYPARKS in Inverclyde are set to become smoke-free zones in a first for Scotland.

Inverclyde Council is the first local authority in the country to ban smoking in children's play areas.

The pilot scheme will mean mums and dads will have to stub out their cigarettes within the play areas of parks in Greenock, Gourock, Port Glasgow and Kilmacolm.

Almost 90 per cent of people who responded to the council's most recent Citizens' Panel survey supported proposals to make all children's outdoor play areas smoke free.

Councillor Stephen McCabe said: "I would very much endorse this view.

"I am pleased to report therefore that Inverclyde is the first area in Scotland to initiate a pilot of smoke free play parks.

"The rationale behind the initiative is to avoid exposing children and young people to adult role models who smoke in an attempt to make smoking less attractive to young people. This is something I am sure we would all support." No smoking signs will go up in the coming weeks at four sites in Inverclyde - King Street Park in Gourock, Battery Park in Greenock, Coronation Park in Port Glasgow and Birkmyre Park in Kilmacolm.

The eighth annual survey revealed that 87 per cent of those who responded to the questionnaire said they would like to see children's play areas become smoke free.

However, nine per cent disagreed with this statement.

Last week saw the fifth anniversary of the ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces in Scotland.