Smokers head for early grave

Drab, lifeless packaging and gory photographs may be the answer to the community’s smoking problem.

As we reveal today, there has been a significant fall in the number of North East smokers since new packaging for cigarettes came into force.

The murky green packets complete with unpleasantly detailed images of various lung diseases and other deadly smokingrelated conditions have turned punters away.

They were particularly aimed at the youth market, who are considered more susceptible to the influences of pretty packaging.

But the bland packets with their green colouring, described as the ugliest colour in the world, have produced beautiful results.

Smoking rates among adults in the North East have fallen from 18.7% in 2015 down to 17,2% in 2016.

That, unfortunately, appears to be where the good news ends.

Despite the overall North East figures offering some heartening news, Sunderland’s poorly smokers have put the city second in the country for hospital admissions.

It’s a financial drain on an already cash-strapped National Health Service.

While the city clinches second place for hospital admissions, it has secured first prize in the competition no one wants to win. The league of death.

Sunderland has the worst death rate among smokers in the North East.

While the ugly packaging plays a part in reducing the number of smokers, you’d have thought the grim fatality figures would be more compelling.

If the threat of death or life-changing health conditions don’t put people off, nothing will.

Lifeless bodies surely trump lifeless packaging every time.