THERE is more support for smoke-free legislation in Lancashire four years on from when it was first introduced, new figures show.

The Tobacco Free Lancashire group said 78 per cent of the population backed the law.

Janet Walton, from NHS East Lancashire, said: “The results from the survey show just how much public support there is for a smoke-free environment, and just how important it is that we continue to support and encourage people to be smoke-free.

"Reducing the harm due to smoking is still a key priority for us.

“In the period 2010/11, there were 565 smoking-related deaths in East Lancashire, with smoking rates in parts of the PCT considerably higher than the national average.”

Membership of Tobacco Free Lancashire includes a broad range of healthcare professionals, schools and colleges, the fire service, trading standards officers and environmental health officers.