A new public health campaign in the district aims to encourage people to top up on vitamin D this summer to avoid the risk of deficiency.

Many people are unaware that they or their children could be at risk of vitamin D deficiency by not getting outdoors enough each day.

Up to a quarter of people in the UK have low levels of vitamin D in their blood which can lead to bone pain, muscle weakness, and at its most extreme, can cause rickets in children.

Vitamin D is often called the sunshine vitamin because most of the vitamin D we need is made from sunlight by our skin. The vitamin helps control the amount of calcium absorbed from diets, and so is important to make and keep strong bones.

To help tackle the issue of vitamin D deficiency, the local NHS and partners are launching a new publicity campaign to raise awareness about ways to get enough vitamin D.

Packs containing posters and leaflets are being sent to GP practices, pharmacies, children’s centres and libraries throughout the district.

Becky Reynolds, from the public health team at NHS Airedale, Bradford and Leeds, said: “Everyone needs vitamin D to make strong bones, and the good news is that vitamin supplements can help a lot. But it’s also important for people to get more exposure to sunlight and eat a balanced diet including foods rich in vitamin D and calcium.

“Now that we have the longest days of sunshine in the year, it’s important to make sure that we all get enough vitamin D to see us through the year. We hope the new publicity campaign will encourage members of the public to keep their vitamin D levels topped up, and also remind all professionals who work with groups at risk to talk to their patients and the public about this important vitamin.”

Bradford District Care Trust is launching a new initiative this year where all infants in Bradford and Airedale up to six months old are offered Healthy Start vitamin drops, which contain vitamin D, from their health visitor.

For the past year Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Airedale NHS Foundation Trust have also been offering all pregnant women Healthy Start vitamins to last throughout pregnancy to help give them and their growing baby the best start. More than 6,000 women have now received the vitamins.

e-mail: claire.lomax @telegraphandargus.co.uk