TWO short student films, highlighting the impact of smoking on youngsters are to feature in an anti-tobacco project.

The films, by pupils at Haydock Sports College are titled ‘Don’t Give in to Peer Pressure’ and Daddy Give Up’ and will be entered into the North West Cut Films 2012/2013 contest.

Run by the Deborah Hutton Campaign and the Smoke and Mirrors Youth Anti-Tobacco project, the competition asked young people across the region to research tobacco marketing make a two minute short film, then upload it to the website.

Winners will be presented with their award at a ceremony at the Printworks Odeon, Manchester on Monday, January 28, 2013.

Cut Films Charity Director Emma Wrafter said: “In England alone 150,000 children aged between 11 and 15 are regular smokers. When we still have 100,000 people dying each year from smoking related illnesses, talking to young people about the risks is vital.

“Congratulations to Haydock Sports College for making the film and standing up to Big Tobacco. ”

Jessica Dann, who made ‘Don’t give in to Peer Pressure’ said: “By making this film we wanted to learn about the media. We also wanted other young people to think before thinking about smoking. We then hoped that by making their own film on smoking they would understand all the dangers and not start in the first place.”

Elizabeth Melia, aged 15, behind ‘Daddy give up’ said: “Our group wanted to explore the fact that it’s not just the smoker themselves who is affected by smoking, but many others who are forced to passive smoke around them.”

Voting closes tomorrow.

To vote for the film go to cutfilms.org and press the vote button and search for ‘Don’t give in to Peer Pressure’ or ‘Daddy give up’ in the North West Cut Films section.