SMOKING is killing more people in Bolton than virtually anywhere else in the country.

The town has one of the highest death rates for smoking related lung cancer, heart disease and strokes.

And today, on National No Smoking Day, the Bolton Evening News can reveal that there are still 78,000 smokers in the town -- the same as 10 years ago. This is despite massive, expensive public health campaigns urging people to quit.

In a two year period, 489 people died from lung cancer and a shocking 81 per cent -- 396 people -- as a direct result of smoking.

Residents are 15 per cent more likely than the national average to die of lung cancer, 19 per cent more at risk of getting heart disease and 34 per cent from a stroke.

More worryingly, experts say that the number of children taking up smoking is also on the increase, although no official figures have yet been compiled.

Deborah Harkins, public health specialist at Wigan and Bolton Health Authority, said: "We don't know the reasons why children are starting smoking. We only know that some will try to stop and that is when we can act.

"Young women in particular are smoking, which is very worrying."

Dr Peter Elton, Head of public health for Bolton, said: "Smoking not only increases the risks of dying before you are 65. There are other things about smoking that people need to think about, such as bad breath and premature ageing. Smokers look 10 years older. Young people should be told this as well."

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