Two new health workers are to help more Spen Valley people to quit smoking.

North Kirklees Smoking Cessation Service now has an extra specialist who will work in local hospitals and a community advisor to help people, particularly in minority ethnic communities, give up tobacco.

Christine Farmey has worked in the health service for 30 years, including nine years as a practice nurse.

She will help people who have been referred from hospital and want to quit smoking.

She said: "I have seen a lot of damage caused to people by smoking and I have cared for people who have developed long-term illnesses.

"I know the importance of giving up in order to prevent chronic disease problems in the future."

Amina Hans-Adam has worked as a health educator since the team was set up more than two years ago.

She will now be using her educational experiences to help people in minority ethnic communities give up tobacco.

She is hoping to work closely with GP practices and run specialist clinics.

She said a problem in some parts of the Asian community was not just smoking but chewing tobacco in paan or gutkha - which puts people more at risk of mouth cancer.

She will be working to raise awareness that chewing tobacco is just as harmful as smoking it.