From October 1 smokers will be forced to look at pictures showing the harmful effects of smoking - every time they light-up.

Images of the grim reality of smoking will include a dead body in a mortuary, throat cancer, diseased lungs and surgeons performing open heart surgery.

The UK will be the first country in the EU to introduce graphic picture warnings on all tobacco products in place of the written warning featured on packs since 2003.

According to figures published by the Department of Health, the written warnings have been a success - motivating 90,000 smokers to call the NHS Smoking Helpline.

But smoking is still the nation's and causes the premature death of over 87,000 people each year in England alone.

It is hoped the visual warnings will be a wake-up call to the UKs 10 million smokers, as research shows they are more likely to remember the damage they are doing to their health if they see a picture.

The Department of Health Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, said: "These new stark picture warnings emphasise the harsh health realities of continuing to smoke.

"I hope they will make many more think hard about giving up, and get the help they need to stop smoking for good."

Canada was the first country to put images of the health risks from smoking on cigarette packets, in 2001.

One year later, research showed that almost of third of ex-smokers had been motivated to quit by the pictures.

Other countries which have adopted the visual warnings are Australia, Brazil, India, New Zealand, Singapore, Venezuela, Thailand and Uruguay.

But there can't be many smokers out there who are not already aware of the health risks associated with smoking.

Isn't it patronising to smokers to make them look at pictures to remind them of the dangers every time they want a cigarette?

After all they have already been hounded out of pubs and restaurants and forced to huddle in doorways and under awnings to indulge their habit.

Or do we need to purge society of smoking for good?

What do you think? Have your say below.

  • For help stopping smoking call the The NHS Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 0 169 or visit nhs.uk/gosmokefree