A DRIVE to help Bolton smokers quit is on course to meet its ambitious target despite what a leading doctor described as a "hairy" year.

The health authority's smoking cessation service will have succeeded in helping 200 people cast aside their cigarettes by the end of this month..

With Bolton having the unenviable status of the third highest lung cancer death rate in the North-west, the fight against cigarettes is regarded as crucial.

But Dr Peter Elton, director of public health with Wigan and Bolton Health Authority, said the support team had been forced to take on 14 extra staff to cope with an "enormous" increase in referrals.

The service was placed under considerable strain by demand for anti-smoking drug Zyban which created a log-jam until the additional staff were appointed.

Dr Elton said: "I think they have done very well within six months to get back on track but it was a bit hairy."

He also weighed into the controversy about the role of Hollywood films in encouraging children to take up smoking.

A study published this week showed that fans of actors such as Brad Pitt, Leonardo Di Caprio and Sharon Stone who play characters who smoke are more likely to light up themselves.

Dr Elton said: "We think that does have an effect on people. There's no doubt the tobacco industry does want to have people smoking in movies. If someone a younger person admires smokes they are more likely to want to follow suit."

The health authority's work in changing attitudes includes contributing to school Personal and Social Education lessons by teaching teenagers the skills to resist peer pressure.

Other anti-smoking measures employed in the town have included using under-16s as 'spies' to catch out unscrupulous newsagents by buying cigarettes.

The smoking cessation team work with smokers on a one-to-one basis. A DRIVE to help Bolton smokers quit is on course to meet its ambitious target despite what a leading doctor described as a "hairy" year.

The health authority's smoking cessation service will have succeeded in helping 200 people cast aside their cigarettes by the end of this month.

With Bolton having the unenviable status of the third highest lung cancer death rate in the North-west, the fight against cigarettes is regarded as crucial.

But Dr Peter Elton, director of public health with Wigan and Bolton Health Authority, said the support team had been forced to take on 14 extra staff to cope with an "enormous" increase in referrals.

The service was placed under considerable strain by demand for anti-smoking drug Zyban which created a log-jam until the additional staff were appointed.

Dr Elton said: "I think they have done very well within six months to get back on track but it was a bit hairy."

He also weighed into the controversy about the role of Hollywood films in encouraging children to take up smoking.

A study published this week showed that fans of actors such as Brad Pitt, Leonardo Di Caprio and Sharon Stone who play characters who smoke are more likely to light up themselves.

Dr Elton said: "We think that does have an effect on people. There's no doubt the tobacco industry does want to have people smoking in movies. If someone a younger person admires smokes they are more likely to want to follow suit."

The health authority's work in changing attitudes includes contributing to school Personal and Social Education lessons by teaching teenagers the skills to resist peer pressure.

Other anti-smoking measures employed in the town have included using under-16s as 'spies' to catch out unscrupulous newsagents by buying cigarettes.

The smoking cessation team work with smokers on a one-to-one basis.