MUSLIM smokers in Huddersfield are being urged to celebrate a fasting festival by quitting the habit.

They are being encouraged to stop smoking when the month of Ramadan begins on Tuesday.

The call comes after research showed how a sizeable minority of people from ethnic minorities did not know about the health risks associated with smoking.

A survey said 22% of Bangladeshi men and a fifth of Pakistani men believed smoking had no effect on health.

The figures also showed how 90% of people in the UK's Asian communities had never heard about nicotine replacement therapy.

Lorraine Bradbury, manager of the NHS's stop smoking service in this area, said:

"Muslims, in particular, suffer from high rates of respiratory symptoms, heart disease, severe chest pain and long-standing illness caused by smoking."

Tobacco chewing is also high among Asian communities.

More than a quarter of Bangladeshi women and almost a fifth of Bangladeshi men regularly chew tobacco, increasing the chances of oral cancer.

A free helpline will offer smokers advice. The numbers are:

* Urdu: 0800 169 0 881

* Punjabi: 0800 169 0882

* Hindi: 0800 169 0 883

* Gujarati: 0800 169 0 884

* Bengali: 0800 169 0 885.

Lines are open from 1pm to 9pm on Tuesday.