WIRRAL'S young people are increasingly filtering out smoking from their daily lives according to a special survey.

The latest figures for both primary and secondary pupils across the peninsula reflect the recent decline seen in national smoking levels and the changing perception of smoking as "uncool."

Among primary school pupils the number who claim they have never puffed at a cigarette the figures increased from 91.4% in 2012 to 93.8% this year.

For secondary school scholars it was 71.1% in 2012 and 80.l% for 2013.

The statistics are shown in a HELP survey – carried out among Wirral’s children and young people for the Children’s Trust - covering a series of lifestyle issues.

The results will used by the trust in the development of service planning for youngsters.

A report on the situation will be studied by Wirral Children’s Trust Board on Monday.

Response by the Children and Young People’s Plan to issues raised include the proposed involvement of specialist substance misuse agencies to provide education, treatment and other support for families where parents or children were misusing substances; and the development of a range of bespoke programmes of activities and interventions to target vulnerable young women misusing alcohol.

On the question of alcohol consumption the survey revealed a slight reduction in primary school children who imbibed – a whole drink and not just a sip. The figures were 16.4% in 2012 to 16% in 2013.

There was a reduction among secondary school children for the same question.

Last year 53.4% of young children claimed to have had an alcoholic drink compared to 46% this year.

The section covering obesity and healthy lifestyle revealed that children were most active in the primary school with 62.3% of those who took part in the survey walking to school.

In comparison 39% of secondary school pupils walked, almost 36% used the bus and 35% were driven to school.

And on the question of eating five or more portions of fruit and vegetables a day only 21.9% of primary and 18% of secondary pupils said they had followed the advice.

It was, however, an improvements on the previous year where the respective figures were 20.8% and 15.2%.

On the happiness front 85.8% or primary pupils said they were happy all or most of the time.

By secondary school this fell to 79.2%. However 97% of primary and 96.4% of secondary pupils said they had at least one or more good friends.