A pioneering anti-smoking public address system has been rolled out across west Wales, with Pembrokeshire schoolchildren recording the messages.

Any member of the public who sees someone smoking on hospital sites can now press a red button that will activate an outdoor speaker reminding people not to smoke.

The scheme, nicknamed ‘Push the Button’, was launched last week at Withybush Hospital with Wolfscastle Primary School pupils invited to hear their voices on the speakers for the first time.

“It's a unique project,” said Steve Moore, chief executive of Hywel Dda Health Board. “I don’t think anybody else has brought together local schoolchildren and the ability to anonymously press a button and remind people smoking outside that they really shouldn’t be doing it.”

Instead of having a security guard approach smokers, it is thought the children’s voices would be a less threatening deterrent.

“Using the kids’ voices makes it more accessible. This shouldn’t feel threatening, but it should be there to remind people not to smoke,” said Mr Moore.

Pupils from Wolfscastle School, who recorded the messages in both English and Welsh, were thrilled to hear their voices on the address system.

Year five pupil Gwenna Maycock, aged 5, said: I’m really excited about being here. I really like hearing everyone’s voices, but it doesn’t sound like your normal voice you hear in your head. The message I recorded was, ‘Please don’t smoke in the hospital grounds. If you want to have advice to stop smoking, come into the hospital and there people here to help you.’”

Teresa Owen, director of public health for Hywel Dda, said that people do continue to smoke on hospital grounds. “We understand that visiting a hospital can sometimes be stressful experience but we expect smokers to adhere to out smoke-free policy and they should anticipate being asked to leave our hospital sites if they wish to continue smoking,” she said.

The smoking ban also includes e-cigarettes in response to concerns about their safety.