MORE than 12,000 people in East Lancashire have signed a ‘smoke-free’ pledge to stop smoking in their homes and cars.

Now, the Smokefree Homes Programme, run by the Bacup-based Maden Community and Children’s Centre with Lancashire County Council, is being rolled out across the whole county after a successful trial.

The project has involved fire officers, social workers and children’s centre staff being given training to encourage people to stop smoking in their homes and reduce the harmful effects.

Those exposed to second-hand smoke in the long term increase their risks of developing heart disease and lung cancer by a quarter.

They also increase their chances of having a stroke by three-quarters.

Jo McCullagh, the county council’s ‘stop smoking’ and tobacco specialist, said: “People who smoke in their homes or cars cause serious health consequences for those who live with them.

“Children are especially at risk from the effects of second-hand smoke because they have smaller blood vessels and their organs are still developing.

“Therefore they breathe faster and breathe in more toxic chemicals than adults.”

County councillor Azhar Ali, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “More than 207,000 people across Lancashire smoke. As well as damaging their own health, their smoke affects those around them.

“Research has shown that when you breathe in other people’s cigarette smoke, you’re much more likely to suffer from life-threatening illnesses such as cancer and heart disease.

“Second-hand smoking has a devastating effect on children's health and affects their schooling as they’re likely to take more time off.

“It also costs the taxpayer £15.67million a year to treat people with illnesses caused by second-hand smoke in Lancashire alone.”