SMOKERS in Darlington are contributing to their own poverty as well as seriously damaging their health, local experts have warned.

Health officials in the town are urging smokers to quit the habit today, to mark World No Tobacco Day.

Darlington Primary Care Trust said latest figures showed that smokers in the North-East spend £281m a year on their habit.

The authority is backing the annual anti-smoking initiative this year which highlights how smoking hits people's pockets.

The trust's smoking cessation officer Darcy Brown said: "People think that poverty only happens in Third World countries, but we have examples of real hardship right here in our own town.

"We would like people to stop and add up their actual weekly, monthly and yearly spend on tobacco. The average yearly spend is around £1,500 each - that's £3,000 for a couple."

Mr Brown said while health should always be "the most powerful motivator" for people to quit, the financial benefits were also immense.

"This is one of the only times in life when you get to have your cake and eat it," he said.

The trust launched an anti-smoking drive earlier this year, asking Darlington landlords to become the first in the region to declare their pubs non-smoking.

It is continuing its efforts to drive home the message.

Mr Brown said World No Tobacco Day was a timely reminder that many people would be looking forward to summer holidays and the thought of duty-free tobacco.

"What they may not be aware of is the increased risks that their suitcase is hiding," he said.

"Ask any smoker how those duty-free 'specials' make the back of your throat feel, and if honest, they will tell you of the harsh feeling that they get during and after smoking them.

"This is due to the vastly inferior product, often containing more chemicals that are dangerous and with poorer filters.

"These imports significantly increase the danger of cancers to the delicate tissues of the mouth, throat and lungs."