THREE people a day are dying in East Lancashire as a direct result of smoking, health chiefs claimed today.

For the first time they have compiled records of all deaths from illnesses attributed to tobacco addiction awhich show 20 per cent of fatalities in the area are tobacco-related.

In men in deprived areas, such as parts of Blackburn with Darwen, that figure rises to 27 per cent of all deaths.

The East Lancashire toll is around 10 per cent higher than the national average -- a situation today blamed on high levels of deprivation.

Today, health bosses pledged to offer all smokers the chance to give up smoking -- while at the same time doing all they could to stop non-smokers inhaling poisonous fumes.

And East Lancashire's hospital bosses today said they planned to stub out smoking on their premises.

The figures show that:

l 1,117 people die as a result of smoking every year across the area, out of 5,561 deaths each year;

l Men in Blackburn with Darwen are more likely to die from smoking-related illnesses than men in the other five boroughs;

l Women in Burnley suffer the highest percentage of smoke-related deaths, with 18 per cent recorded every year;

l Cancer is the biggest smoking killer among smoking men, responsible for 249 deaths;

l Cardiovascular conditions such as heart disease, which can be attributed to smoking, claimed the most women, 169, in East Lancashire.

l Overall, cancer kills 570 men per 100,000 in East Lancashire, compared to a regional average of 481, with 366 per 100,000 women in East Lancs, compared to a regional average of 312.

In total 10 times as many people die from smoke-related illnesses as from alcohol-related ones.

Health bosses today said they would use the figures to help improve the lives of people across the area.

Dr Gifford Kerr, from Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust, said: "These figures show we have a lot to do to tackle the problem.

"Smoking has a real impact on people's lives.

For example, lung cancer has a real impact on reducing life expectancy in women more than men."

Nicky Parkes, team leader for the Quest quit smoking scheme, currently operating in parts of East Lancashire, said: "The North West is a hot spot for cardiovascular disease and cancer.

"Quest provides 21 community sessions that the public can access and 26 clinics in GP practices run by nurses.

We assess clients and implement appropriate treatment programmes and support them through the process of stopping smoking. Clients can attend the community sessions for as long as they require."

A report being presented to Lancashire County Council's cabinet tomorrow suggests Asian people are more likely to smoke than white people, often because they do not have ready access to health advice.

Across East Lancashire, 30 per cent of people smoke, with 30 per cent claiming to be ex-smokers. Nationally, 25 per cent of the population smoke.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "Areas like East Lancashire have high levels of deprivation, and the data suggests such areas do have a higher rate of smoking deaths.

Primary Care Trusts in East Lancashire have been given millions of pounds in extra funding to help people tackle things like smoking."

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust has banned smoking in its grounds from December 1.

They believe that will help reduce the risk of complications in treatment for patients already admitted, will help patients recover more quickly, lead to wounds healing more quickly, and give people greater control over their smoking.

Jo Cubbon, chief executive of the trust said: "There has also been more evidence about the dangers posed by exposure to second-hand smoke

I am confident the no smoking policy will be hugely beneficial for patients and staff.

"The measures will reduce the health risks to non-smokers, assist the recovery of patients who do smoke as well as helping them give up."

Both Lancashire County Council and Blackburn with Darwen councils are stepping up their anti-smoking work in schools, after it was claimed up to 80 per cent of smokers start doing so as teenagers.

Coun Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration, said: "We're doing our bit by banning smoking in the market and working with the shopping centre to ban it there. More people want to be in a smoke-free environment and we have to help them."