Voting is now under way for the Deborah Hutton Campaign’s Cut Films competition aimed at stopping young people from smoking.

Smoking remains one of the biggest health risks among people in London - and young children are continuing to take up the habit.

The competition asks teenagers to draw on their creative skills to write and produce a short film which discourages their peers from smoking for the first time.

Deborah Hutton was a highly-acclaimed journalist from north London who died at the age of 49 from lung cancer. She had smoked as a young woman but had given up at the age of 24.

The charity set up in her name is aimed at making young people think twice and consider the consequences to their health later in life.

At the heart of the charity is the Cut Films competition, the brainchild of Deborah’s husband, Charlie Stebbings.

Archant London - the publisher of the Recorder- is sponsoring the award for the best short film in London.

Twenty entries from schools and individuals from across the capital have been shortlisted and people can now vote for their favourite.

The judges who make the final decision include children’s writer Anthony Harowitz and London-based GP and stop smoking specialist Dr Alex Bobak.

There are also young representatives on the judging panel including 12-year-old Charlie Haddon from Romford.

“I am against smoking because I am a keen sportsman,” he said. “If I smoked I would find it difficult to breathe, this would result in me having to give up my sports. “If you smoke, you are not only damaging yourself you are killing others with the toxic fumes coming out of one cigarette.”

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at BAFTA in Piccadilly on July 5. Mr Harowitz and T4 TV presenter Will Best will host.

Winning entrants could scoop Kindles, iPods and festival tickets plus recognition for creating an acclaimed piece of film.

View the short films and cast your vote before Thursday May 4 at www.london24.com or www.cutfilms.org.Anti-smoking cxampaign