THE number of people in Exmouth dying from smoking related diseases has fallen for the third year in a row.

THE number of people in Exmouth dying from smoking related diseases has fallen for the third year in a row.

In a sign that smoking ban and Government intervention is having a marked affect on public health, between July 2009 and 2010 approximately 66 people died from complications caused by smoking in Exmouth.

The numbers are down from around 75 on 2008/2009 and 82 the previous two years before that.

The ban was introduced in the summer of 2007 prohibiting smoking in all indoor public places, work places and work vehicles.

The figures were taken from the Department of Health’s health profile for East Devon published at the end of last month.

The Exmouth figures are an approximation from figures across East Devon; the report shows that over the last year 222 people have died from smoking related illnesses across the district.

This figure is down from 250 the previous year and 275 the previous two years before that.

Across the region this translates as 8019 people dying of smoking related diseases in the South Westover the last 12 months, compared with 8174 the previous year.

The numbers of expectant mums smoking during pregnancy in East Devon has also dropped to 127, a fall from 147 two years ago.

Fiona Andrews, Director of Smokefree South West said: “The figures demonstrate that there are some encouraging trends in the South West. “However, we know that smoking is still the biggest preventable killer, and more work needs to be done to raise awareness of the harm caused by tobacco, encourage smokers to quit, and reduce the uptake of smoking among children.

“These are all key priorities on Smokefree South West’s agenda.”