A NEW anti-smoking campaign has been launched highlighting the need for good respiratory health in the light of coronavirus.

It explains the harms of smoking, promotes the benefits of giving up and signposts people to support.

Blackburn with Darwen Council launched its latest stop smoking campaign this week to coincide with the move to Step Four of the government’s Covid-19 roadmap out of legal restrictions.

It stresses that good respiratory health now more important than ever because of the pandemic.

The campaign will use a series of animations to explain how smoking harms nearly every organ of the body including the lungs, mental health, heart, skin, brain, and vision.

They will appear on the borough’s digital advertising boards in Blackburn town centre and at Larkhill as well as on social media and highlight the help available in the borough.

Cllr Brian Taylor, the council's assistant executive member for health and wellbeing who gave up smoking 25 years ago, said: "We know smoking causes cancer and dramatically reduces both quality of life and life expectancy. Our campaign is designed to educate and inform as well as point smokers in the direction of help.

"Coronavirus has highlighted the importance of good respiratory health.

"If you need and extra incentive to give up smoking the damage done by Covid-19 to people's lungs is it.

"As a previous smoker I have personal experience of quitting and know stopping smoking is one of the best things a smoker will ever do for their health.

"When they stop, they give their lungs the chance to repair and they will be able to breathe easier. There are lots of other benefits too – and they start almost immediately."