Today, on the 17th national No Smoking Day, hundreds of people across the district will be screwing up their last packet of cigarettes.

But although more than a million UK smokers try to quit each year, only an estimated 40,000 finally kick the habit.

As a Health Action Zone, Bradford has recently received advance funding to kick-start a national campaign offering new help and support to smokers.

National figures show about 28 per cent of adults still smoke but people in Bradford are more likely to take up the habit than others.

Heartsmart health project worker Diane Woodall said: "If you look at smoking in low income areas, that's where it's more prevalent, with between 40 and 70 per cent smokers. We're taking a systematic approach and want there to be places for people where they can get help."

The new smoking cessation project aims to bring support into core health services such as GP surgeries. Practices across the district have been granted extra funding to counsel smokers who want to quit and a similar pilot project is running at dental surgeries.

Leeds Road Hospital now offers intensive support for those with smoking related diseases and pregnant, disadvantaged or young people. Smokers who have repeatedly tried to quit and those highly dependent on nicotine can also be referred. Both services offer a week's free nicotine replacement therapy to people who do not pay prescription fees.

On No Smoking Day, 300 people will die of smoking related diseases but health workers are also working towards prevention rather than cure. Experts claim stopping smoking is the single most beneficial action a pregnant smoker can do to improve her health and that of her baby.

Parent education midwife at Bradford Royal Infirmary, Janet Spencer, said that women who smoke in pregnancy were more likely to suffer miscarriages and premature delivery.

She said: "Their babies are also more likely to have a lower birth weight and slower growth and be breathless or wheezy in the first six months and there's an increased risk of Sudden Infant Death."

Last year, 73 fires in the Bradford district were caused by smoking materials. Bradford community fire safety officer Steve Feathers said people should always check bins and ashtrays for smouldering cigarettes - but the majority of fires were caused by children playing with matches and lighters.

"We want to remind people of the dangers and ask them to be vigilant," he said.

"We are trying to reduce these figures through giving information on the hazards of smoking, particularly leaving lighted cigarettes around the home."

l For more information on how to stop smoking, talk to your GP, or call the Specialist Smoking Service on (01274) 363559.

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