THE 2,899 Cumbrians who lent their support to the north west's 'tobacco-free future for children' campaign have helped it win a national award.

The postcards they sent to the Department of Health calling for a long-term plan to protect future generations from the effects of smoking, were among 60,000 pledges of support across the region, the biggest response in the country.

Latest figures show that smoking kills 933 people a year in Cumbria.