THOUSANDS of children in Hampshire are at risk of contracting life-threatening illnesses from breathing in second-hand smoke, health chiefs have warned.

They said parents must quit smoking to protect infants from killer conditions such as cot death and asthma.

The call comes a week after the Daily Echo launched its Staying Alive campaign – urging people to shakeup their lifestyles to battle back against chronic diseases caused by poor diet and lifestyle which claimed the lives of 13,000 people in Southampton alone between 2009 and 2011.

Hampshire Quit4Life is a backing a national awareness campaign highlighting the dangers of smoking indoors and in cars has on the younger generation and how 800 doctors admissions a day nationally of children affected by second hand smoke.

In total 17.2 per cent of the county’s population smoke including 20 per cent in Southampton.

The group’s clinical service manager Julia Robson, pictured, stressed children are more vulnerable to the poisonous fumes from carbon monoxide, tar and 4,000 other chemicals and said: “It really impacts on children’s body tissues because the chemicals restrict oxygen supply meaning they are not able to grow properly “You might lean out the window to smoke but there’s so much hidden smoke which blows back into the room or the gets on to your clothes and hair.”

Smokers are more than 50 per cent more likely to die early than non-smokers because they are vulnerable to lung cancer, heart disease and stroke. But the highly addictive nicotine means it can take more than six attempts to give up.

Julia added: “It’s very distressing when you see babies and children affected by their parents smoking, these are the same chemicals coming out from a car exhaust “But we know how addictive cigarettes are - we are not here to judge, we want to make sure people know about the dangers and can get the support they need.”

xhead People using Quit4Life’s services are four times more likely to be able to kick the habit than those going cold turkey and the group’s techniques include administering nicotine patches and Champix Tablets.

They offer ongoing support for 12 weeks and also signpost people to other services to help with alcohol and obesity.

Cancer Research UK chief executive Dr Harpal Kumar said: “Evidence is clear that smoking around children is harmful so it’s vital they are protected from the dangers of second-hand smoke.

“Raising awareness of the dangers, providing information and supporting parents to make healthy choices are the first steps towards this.”

Contact 0845 602 4663 text Quit to 60123 or see quit4life.nhs.uk for help.