The "hidden" victims of smoking were highlighted during the presentation of the country's first awards to honour people who strive to stub out the killer habit.

Seven people from the Bradford area were among 25 to receive Outstanding Achievement Awards from West Yorkshire Smoking and Health, and Yorkshire Action on Smoking and Health.

Launching the awards ceremony at the Aagrah restaurant, Pudsey, David Reed, campaign director for Yorkshire ASH, described smoking as an epidemic which claimed the lives of 120,000 people every year.

Among the winners was Marcia McGrail, a practice nurse at Gaguine and Partners in Little Horton Lane, Bradford.

Ms McGrail, who gave up smoking when she became pregnant, said: "There are people at home, permanently on oxygen, that the rest of us don't see. I visit four people in that situation - multiply that by the number of practices in Bradford and you get an idea of the extent of the problem."

Other winners included PC John Taylor, schools liaison officer with Pudsey police, for his work with young people. He said: "I feel very strongly that tobacco is a drug so I can't do a drugs talk without incorporating smoking."

Health lecturer Doug Taylor, of Bradford University, was honoured for helping launch the university's smoke-free policy; pharmacist Mark Donaghy, of Conquests Chemist, Clayton Road, Bradford, for supporting customers who are trying to quit; Reevy Hill Health Centre, Bradford, for being the first practice to implement and maintain GP ASSIST, a co-ordinated anti-smoking approach involving all staff; health visitor Diane Charnock, of Station Road Surgeries, Haworth, for counselling work, smoking and pregnancy training; and Gill Hawksworth, Old Bank Pharmacy, Mirfield, who piloted Royal Pharmaceutical Society guidelines which were turned into a resource pack.

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