'Another good reason' is the message from The Stroke Association for No Smoking Day.

The charity is urging readers to reduce their chance of having a stroke by stubbing out their cigarettes for good as part of the annual day.

A lot of people think only of cancer as a health risk associated with smoking, but a quarter of all strokes, this country's single biggest cause of death and disability are directly caused by smoking.

Smokers are three times more likely to suffer a stroke than non-smokers and the charity is hoping that the first No Smoking Day of the Millennium, on Wednesday March 8, will provide an ideal opportunity to kick the habit. As well as smokers being at a higher risk of having a stroke, new research also shows there is a link between passive smoking and stroke.

SUE KNIGHT

The Stroke Association

London.