Ref. 71888-4SMOKERS under 40 are five times more likely to have a heart attack than those who don't light up, warns a report out today.

Authors of the study say the findings based on figures compiled on behalf of the World Health Organisation dash the widely held belief that only older smokers are at risk of heart disease.

The experts studied almost 23,000 non-fatal heart attacks between 1985 and 1994 and found four fifths of victims aged 34 to 39 were smokers.

The report states: "Although young people may acknowledge the well documented fact that cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, they and even physicians, may think that this is only a concern in older age.

"Our data indicates that half of non-fatal cases in men and women younger than 50 years even more in younger age groups would be preventable if smoking cessation programmes were successful."

Last night, smokers in Old Town seemed concerned by the new findings.

Melanie Bell, 32, smokes 15 cigarettes a day.

The hairdresser, from Springfield Road, Old Town, said: "I have been smoking for 12 years and this really concerns me.

"I will definitely try and stop I don't want to die of heart disease or lung cancer.

"But I have tried to give it up five times before it's really hard."

Her friend, Liz Hambidge, 24, of York Road, town centre, is manager of a Swindon bookmakers.

Although she claims to smoke just 20 cigarettes a week, she says she is still worried.

"I don't know why I smoke I have only been doing it for a year," she said.

"It's something that I do when I'm having a social drink with friends.

"I am never really aware of the smoke.

"The smoke in the bookies can be really bad.

"You get people come in with big, fat cigars and it makes you feel sick."

Simon Poore, 26, of Warneford Close, Toothill, said he was once puffing through 50 cigarettes a day but has cut down.

"I only smoke 10 a day," said Mr Poore, who is assistant manager for a large Swindon store.

"I have been smoking since I was 14-years-old. I used to pinch cigarettes from my mum and dad.

"It is a little worrying but giving up isn't my main priority at the moment I am too busy with work."

Ian Wilmore, spokesman for the anti-smoking group ASH, said: "This should be a shocking wake-up call to all young smokers.

"It has been known for years that smoking is linked to lung cancer and heart disease but the specific risk to younger smokers has been less documented.

"Lifetime smokers have a 50 per cent chance of dying from a smoking-related illness."

Mr Wilmore added, however, that those who kick the habit before their 30th birthday have an excellent chance of living to a grand old age.

He said: "By young people stop smoking by this age they will reduce the risk of lung cancer and heart disease to nearly that of someone who has never had a cigarette in their life."

The research was conducted in Europe, China, Australia, New Zealand and North America.

Kevin Shoesmith