An iron chain' linking high levels of smoking to areas of deprivation has been revealed by a major new mapping project published today.

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) commissioned the maps to show the smoking rates and deprivation in every council ward in England.

In Bradford, the ward with the highest level of deprivation is Little Horton, which is also revealed to have one of the highest rates of smoking (34 per cent of residents smoke). The ward is the fifth most deprived in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

The ward with the most smokers is Tong with 39 per cent, which also has high levels of deprivation.

The ward in the district with the least deprivation is Ilkley, which also has the lowest prevalence of smoking with just 16 per cent of residents lighting up.

Smoking remains the single biggest factor behind the difference in life expectancy between social classes in England, and ASH is calling on the Government to ensure that funding for stop smoking services and other work on public health and smoking does not suffer because of the cash crisis in the NHS.

Deborah Arnott, director of ASH, said: "This important new project shows the iron chain that links smoking and deprivation.

"Smoking is the biggest killer in England and it kills more people in poorer communities.

"These easy-to-use maps give policy makers, media professionals and interested members of the public the chance to see how smoking and deprivation are linked across every ward in England.

"We hope councils, NHS Primary Care Trusts, MPs and decision makers will use these maps as part of their work on tobacco control.

"This project shows once again why smoking must be top of the list of concerns for everyone who cares about tackling poverty and social exclusion."

A spokesman for Bradford and Airedale Teaching PCT, which runs smoking cessation services, said it acknowledged the link between smoking and deprivation.

He said: "The Bradford District Stop Smoking Service has always worked across all communities, which cover many inner city deprived areas.

"People in deprived areas readily access our service and we also work closely with Bradford Council, local Sure Starts, community groups and mosques to increase awareness of the danger of smoking and the help available for people who want to quit.

"At the moment we are targeting the South Asian population during our Ramadan campaign, but this is just one of many regular initiatives we run.

"The Bradford Tobacco Strategy sets out the importance of working with deprived communities and we are committed to this."

To view the maps online visit Ash's website at www.ash.org.uk.

e-mail: claire.lomax@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

Ramadan targeted by stop-smoking service

The Bradford NHS Stop Smoking Service NHS has been targeting the Muslim community during Ramadan with its campaign Don't Give Up Giving Up.

Stop smoking advisors have been visiting mosques to encourage the Muslim community to fast from cigarettes and stay off them for good when Ramadan ends.

This year's campaign is also raising the profile of the Health Act, which comes into force in 2007 and will require work places and enclosed public places to be smoke free.

Mohammed Idrees, of the Stop Smoking Service, said: "Smoking is a serious health issue for Asian communities.

"What's more, avoiding smoking is keeping in with the teachings of Islam. The Qur'an says make not your own hands contribute to your destruction'."

This is the sixth year the Bradford Stop Smoking Ramadan campaign has run.

The NHS Stop Smoking Service is based at Leeds Road Hospital and offers help and support in venues across the district, including GP surgeries. Advisors offer either one-to-one or group sessions depending on the client's needs. Courses last from four to eight weeks.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy is available through the service by prescription from GPs and is free to people entitled to free prescriptions.

To contact the service ring (01274) 363559.