'Smoking remains our biggest cause of ill health, causing nearly 6,000 deaths every year in the North East alone and we need to do all we possibly can to drive down smoking rates, helping the 70% of smokers who want to quit.'

'There is still much to be done to address this issue and today's announcement is just one of the elements of this important work. Together with the introduction of July's smokefree law, and forthcoming plans to raise the legal age of sale from 16 to 18 years old for tobacco products on 1 October many lives will be saved from smoking - the number one cause of early death in our region. Fresh will continue to push for all effective measures to be implemented and will be lobbying also for further restrictions on point of sale advertising, banning of vending machines and for increased access to effective cessation aids like nicotine replacement products".

For more information on help for smokers to quit call the NHS Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 0 169 or visit www.gosmokefree.co.uk