Health bosses at QA Hospital are asking local people to design a poster to encourage smokers outside of QA Hospital's main entrance, to smoke at the deisgnated smoking shelters instead.

Peter Mellor, Company Secretary at QA says, 'Our campaign is not  about trying to force people to give up smoking, but to try and persuade those who choose to smoke outside our hospital to think anout the effect their smoking might have on others.

'In other words please don't light up your cigarette right by the doors to the hospital and affect others with your smoke, instead  move to one of the two smoking shelters that are provided.'

The competition is open for all ages. To enter please send your poster to: QA Poster Competition, The News, The News Centre, Hilsea,Portsmouth, PO2 9SX.

The winning design will be made into a poster and will win £100. Second prize wins £75, while third prize wins £50.

The closing date will be February 28.