SMOKING not only kills by causing lung, heart and other disease.

Smokers in Tenbury and the Teme Valley are being warned that they must wake up to the deadly dangers of smoking - especially when tired.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, as part of the Fire Kills campaign, highlights that a third of all deaths in fires in the home are caused by cigarettes.

Smoking is the single biggest killer in accidental fires in the home, often because of careless behaviour such as smoking in bed or not taking care after drinking alcohol.

When smokers fall asleep with a lit cigarette in hand, their proximity to the resulting fire seriously lowers their chance of escaping in time.

Fire chiefs’ smokers to 'Put it Out, Right Out' whenever they light up, to install smoke alarms on every level of the home, and, to test the smoke alarms weekly.

Without a working smoke alarm people are at least seven times more likely to die in an accidental fire in the home.

Simple steps to reduce the risk include never smoking in bed or under the influence, making sure all spent cigarettes are put out and that a proper sturdy ash tray is used and a smoke alarm fitted.

"Every six days, someone dies from a fire caused by cigarettes or smoking materials. Despite a fall in the overall number of fires caused by these products, it's still the biggest killer in accidental fires in the home across the country,” said Station Commander Stuart Crebbin of the Hereford and Worcester Fire Service.

"If you require further advice on fire safety or would like to call the community risk department to see if you qualify for a free home fire safety check, call 0800 032 1155."