Cancer Research UK figures show that one person dies of cancer caused by smoking every two hours in the North East.
The figures, showing how our region continues to face higher-rates of tobacco-related disease than the rest of England and Wales, have been released to mark World No Tobacco Day. As part of this, the national charity has highlighted how 14.8% of people in the North East still smoke.
CRUK has joined with campaign group Fresh to highlight the "appalling harm" caused by smoking. The charity has launched a petition calling for the Government to do more. The Smokefree NHS Taskforce - in the North East and across the country - also joining the calls for ministers to better fund stop smoking services and public health campaigns to help people quit smoking.
