Brighton and Hove Albion are putting teenagers through their paces to encourage them not to smoke.

The Seagulls have been signed up to take part in four health and fitness sessions at Dorothy Stringer High School in Brighton.

Players will talk to Year 9 students about how smoking affects health before holding training sessions.

Sheelagh Cornford, a school nurse and smoking cessation adviser, will carry out fitness checks and look at heart rates.

She said: "These sessions are exciting and fun for the students and make the link between health, fitness and how smoking affects both.

"We appreciate the players giving up their time to encourage young people not to begin smoking or to give up if they've already started."

David Jupp, football in the community officer at the Albion, said: "It's great that the players are behind this.

"Too many youngsters are smoking and damaging their health.

"Hopefully projects like this will make the youngsters more aware of the damage smoking can cause and the implications."

Kate Benson co-ordinates East Sussex, Brighton and Hove Health Authority's smoking cessation service.

Between April and September last year, 578 people referred to the service set a quit date and were still not smoking four weeks later.