With around 16 per cent of adults in the North Yorkshire still smoking, and 61 people a month discovering they have cancer caused by the habit, the county council has pledged to act to cut the problem.

It has signed the Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control, joining the five local health chiefs from partner organisations across North Yorkshire in signing the NHS Statement of support for Tobacco Control.

Tobacco still remains one of the biggest public health challenges and is the leading cause of premature death in England, said a North Yorkshire County Council spokesman.

The move comes as the annual stop smoking month of October, dubbed Stoptober, gets underway.

 “Studies show that two thirds of smokers want to quit, but around 16% of adults in North Yorkshire still smoke and it remains the county’s biggest killer, causing around 1,000 deaths in North Yorkshire every year” said County Councillor David Chance, the Executive Member for Public Health and Stronger Communities.

“Half of long-term smokers die prematurely from a smoking-related disease, and every month 61 people in North Yorkshire discover they have cancer caused by smoking.

“Anything that brings organisations together to work to reduce the availability and attractiveness

of tobacco products is something we actively support. We also welcome the recent law to introduce plain packaging for tobacco that carries hard-hitting health warnings.”

The organisations signing up to the Statement of Support include North Yorkshire County Council and all of the county’s five Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs).

Smokers in North Yorkshire wanting to give up the habit have a wide range of support available through the Smokefreelife North Yorkshire service funded by the County Council.

For more information about the Smokefreelife North Yorkshire stop smoking service or to sign up, ring 0800 246 5215 or 01609 663 023 or text QUIT to 66777. Visit www.smokefreelifenorthyorkshire.co.uk for the nearest stop smoking clinic.

Smokers can also get free additional assistance to quit through the Bradford Airedale stop smoking services, which can support your attempt, whether you use nicotine replacement products, e-cigarettes or another way of quitting.

There is also a wide range of help available direct to your phone, laptop or tablet using a Stoptober app, daily e-mail service or Facebook Messenger.