Health professionals across mid and south Essex are encouraging people with respiratory conditions to stay well this winter by joining in with a new Scarfie campaign.

Scarfie hopes to encourage people with asthma, COPD and other respiratory illnesses to wear a scarf this winter to ease their breathing and keep well.

Dr Sharon Hadley, local GP and respiratory lead for Southend clinical commisioning group, said: “By wearing a scarf, people warm up their breath before it goes into their lungs and can help to ease any respiratory conditions from getting worse in the colder weather.

“With almost 8,000 local residents attending A&E for respiratory related issues in 2016/17 – this simple tip could help many people stay well this winter.”

Some 7,966 people living in Southend, Castle Point and Rochford have a recorded diagnosis of COPD and a further 21,925 have asthma.

Scarfie, an Asthma UK campaign, encourages people to share a selfie of them wearing scarves on social media. MPs, schoolchildren and footballers across south Essex have even got involved.

Giant scarves have also been placed on a number of high profile landmark sin the region to help raise awareness of the Scarfie campaign.

Anyone can get involved in Scarfie – all you need to do is take a selfie with a scarf covering your nose and mouth and post to Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #Scarfie.