Thousands of smokers ignoring health warnings

About 60,000 people in Cornwall are ignoring health warnings by smoking cigarettes, a health practitioner said.

Marc Neeld from Cornwall Council said about 12.7% of people across the county were smokers which he said was slightly above the England average.

The health practitioner's warning coincides with National No Smoking Day on Wednesday.

Mr Neeld said there was an ambition to achieve a "smoke-free generation over the next 10 to 20 years".

Speaking to BBC Radio Cornwall, Mr Neeld said smoking rates had declined over the last 10 to 15 years, but thousands were still smoking.

"We think it's between 59,000 and 60,000 people who still smoke across Cornwall," he said.

Mr Neeld said people who lived in more deprived areas tended to smoke more than those in affluent areas.

He added it was people aged between 45 and 50 who wanted to use services to quit smoking.

The health practitioner said help was available to people across Cornwall, including drop-in and virtual services.

Mr Neeld said the benefits of quitting smoking were effective almost instantly and was "the best thing" a person could do for their health.

"Over months your risk of future cancer and heart disease starts to drop as well," he added.

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