A HARD-hitting campaign has been launched in Leeds to highlight the 16 cancers linked to smoking.

Leeds City Council says every month 64 people from the city discover they have cancer caused by smoking. Health experts say while most smokers know about the link with lung cancer, many people do not realise it is also implicated in cancers of the mouth, nasal cavities, pharynx and larynx, stomach, kidney, bowel, liver, pancreas, ureter, oesophagus, cervix, bladder and ovaries as well as myeloid leukaemia.

Speaking as region-wide Quit16 was launched this week, Councillor Lisa Mulherin, chair of Leeds health and wellbeing board, said: "We know there are areas of Leeds where one in three adults smoke, well above the national and regional average. Smoking costs the city over £220 million and we want to make sure the next generation of children born and brought up in this city never start smoking and grow up free of the terrible health harms associated with tobacco."

Dr Ian Cameron, Leeds City Council Director of Public Health, added: "Stopping smoking is the best thing you can do to reduce the risk that one of those deaths will be you. Quitting isn’t easy but there is lots of help out there - from face to face support, to personalised texts, emails and apps. You can find out details of support near you on our website Quit16.co.uk."