A POSTER campaign encouraging Bury smokers to stub out their last cigarette on New Year's Eve was officially launched last week.

Buses carrying the posters on local roads have now been given their official send off.

Anti-smoking group ASH, whose regional base is at Fairfield Hospital, are behind the adverts, with the backing of Bury and Rochdale Health Authority. The 13-foot posters have been plastered onto the side of vehicles to drive home the message that smoking kills.

The campaign will also draw the attention of young people to the fact that low-tar cigarettes can prove as lethal as any others.

Catherine Davies, spokeswoman for ASH, said: "The tobacco industry tries to fool youngsters into believing that it isn't so dangerous to smoke low tar cigarettes. "They know that if only they can get teenagers hooked on smoking, they will remain customers for life."

The campaign will complement TV advertisements from the Department of Health highlighting the perils of smoking and is being backed by health authorities in the North West, who have been allocated money to fund local anti-smoking campaigns.

Director of Public Health Dr Kevin Snee said: "Smoking is one of the major causes of ill-health in the country and affects people in the more deprived parts of Bury disproportionately.

"People are more likely to get buses in those parts because they are less likely to have their own transport.

"This campaign is part of a whole package of measures designed to address one of the greatest scourges of the modern day."

A tobacco control strategy has been introduced across the Bury and Rochdale Health Authority area, with the introduction of a Smoking Cessation Service and issuing of proof of age cards to teenagers.

The posters will carry the special Quitline number, which is 0800 1690169.

Last week Euro MPs voted overwhelmingly for new laws demanding that cigarette packets carry graphic colour pictures of the damage caused by smoking.