Smoking increases the risk of heart disease and campaigners are hoping a record number of people will give up as part of The Great No Smoking Day Challenge.

Fresh – Smoke Free North East is warning of the dangers of smoking ahead of No Smoking Day on March 12.

To mark Valentine's Day and highlight the campaign, Fresh recreated the No Smoking Day target logo and took it to famous sites across Wearside, including the Stadium of Light and Penshaw Monument.

Ailsa Rutter, director of Fresh – Smoke Free North East, said: "The North East suffers from some of the highest heart disease rates in the country.

"Therefore, using Valentine's Day to encourage people to love themselves and their heart is a great platform for people to begin preparing to quit with The Great No Smoking Day Challenge."

Experts say that quitting smoking is one of the most important things to do to protect your heart.

Lighting up increases the risk of acute and coronary heart disease and can damage the lining of the arteries.

This can lead to the build up of fatty deposits and narrowed arteries, causing high blood pressure and heart attacks.

More than a million smokers across the UK are being challenged to take part in a week-long mass quit attempt from No Smoking Day.

Christine Jordan, from Sunderland NHS Stop Smoking Service, said: "This No Smoking Day on March 12, the region's NHS Stop Smoking Services are gearing up to help a record number of smokers quit – for good.

"Quitting isn't easy but smokers are four times more likely to quit with the local NHS Stop Smoking Services.

"The North East has some of the highest rates of smoking in the UK but it also boasts some of the best NHS Stop Smoking Services in the country and using No Smoking Day is a great way of making a quit attempt with the help of your friends and family."

Smokers aiming to quit on No Smoking Day can sign up on the website: www.nosmokingday.org.uk.

For local NHS Stop Smoking support, call the NHS Smoking Helpline, tel: 0800 012 1612.