Members of City of York Council's Neighbourhood Pride Service will be giving out free portable ashtrays next week in a bid to combat cigarette litter.

The team will be in Samson Square on Wednesday, 27 June between 9.30am and 4.00pm, and on Sunday 1 July from 10.30am till 4.30pm. Working with the North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust's Stop Smoking Service, they will be offering help, advice and support to smokers and non smokers about the new national smoking legislation, which comes in on 1 July.

The council's smokefree officers will also be handing out free portable ashtrays to help smokers cut out cigarette litter.

The team will also be at Tesco's at Askham Bar* from Monday 25 June until Friday 29 between 11.00am and 3.00pm, to provide help and support to shoppers who may be worried about the legislation and its impact.

Russell Stone, head of the council's Neighbourhood Pride Service, said: "We recognise that the Smoking Ban will represent a period of adjustment for York's smokers and we want to help make the coming months as easy as possible for them.

"Having studied the impact of the smoking bans in Scotland and Ireland, we know that one of the knock on effects is an increase in cigarette related litter in the streets. The portable ashtrays can be folded flat and stored in a pocket or purse, so there's no excuse for people to drop their cigarette butts."

Anyone wanting more information about the smoking ban should contact the council's smoke free team on 01904 551523. Portable ashtrays will also be available from council receptions from next week (25 June).