The Telegraph & Argus was one of five groups honoured at the conference yesterday which aimed at ending smoking in public places.

Organisers at the Achieving Smoke Freedom event praised the newspaper's Clear the Air Campaign.

Dr Dee Kyle who is director of public health for Bradford South and West Primary Care Trust said: "It is good to know that the Telegraph & Argus campaign has won enormous support because it keeps the importance of a smoke free Bradford on the agenda."

The T&A's managing editor Peter Orme was at the event to pick up the Excellence in Tobacco Control award.

He said: "The campaign is about getting the health message to people that smoking is not good for you.

He praised chief reporter Caroline Wright who has been responsible for the campaign and said "Caroline has done some good stories to persuade people to stop and we will continue to carry on giving that message as long as it takes".

Awards were also made to Haji Khadim Hussain president of the Council for Mosques, Gill Richardson of Market Town Taverns, Catherine Riley manager of the Kirkgate Shopping Centre and to Lesley Dixon who works in personnel department of Shipley engineering firm Carnaud MetalBox and Paul Leeming the company's finance director.