HEALTH chiefs in Southampton have thrown their weight behind a national campaign to tackle lung cancer.

The campaign will feature in TV adverts nationwide from today through to August and aims to encourage people with persistent coughs and lung cancer symptoms to seek help from their GP immediately.

It comes as figures show that each year 150 people are diagnosed with lung cancer in Southampton, while in 2011, 118 people in the city died because of lung cancer.

Shocking statistics show that between 2009 and 2011 the disease accounted for more than 2,440 years of life lost due to premature death (before the age of 75).

The Daily Echo’s Staying Alive campaign was launched last month in order to help reduce these numbers.

Speaking about the campaign, the director of public health for Southampton City Council, Dr Andrew Mortimore, said: “Our priority is always to ensure the well-being of our local population and this campaign gives us the perfect opportunity to raise the subject of cancer.”

City council Cabinet member for health Councillor Dave Shields added: “We have an excellent range of specialist services here in Southampton and I would urge local people with a persistent cough to see their GP to get it checked out.”