Public Health England (PHE) is highlighting the debilitating nature of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), following new data showing that more than one million Britons are living with the condition.

Figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre show that COPD led to more than 113,000 emergency hospital admissions in England in 2013 and 2014. The data also revealed that approximately 25,000 people die from COPD in England each year, which is twice the European average, and that 86 per cent of these deaths are attributable to smoking.

To illustrate the difficulties of living with advanced COPD and urge smokers to quit this New Year, PHE has released a short film featuring Olympian Iwan Thomas, whose mother has recently been diagnosed with COPD.

Iwan Thomas said: “After years of smoking, it’s great that my mum is making 2016 the year she quits and I’d urge anyone who smokes to do the same. Quitting smoking can add years to your life and life to your years.”