More smokers expected to quit

5:53pm Tuesday 1st January 2008

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HUNDREDS of people are expected to stub it out as part of their New Year's resolutions.

Staff at Bolton's Stop Smoking Service are prepared for a barrage of calls throughout January as smokers use the New Year as their motivation to quit.

Helen Eastham, a Stop Smoking adviser, said: "We always see a substantial increase in the number of people using our service in January.

"Smoking is the single biggest cause of preventable illness and premature death in the UK.

"In England there are estimated to be about 120,000 smoking-related deaths a year.

"Although the national average for smokers in the population is 27 per cent, this figure extends to a 65 per cent in some parts of Bolton."

People who seek support when they are stopping smoking are almost twice as likely to be successful in their attempt.

Nicotine replacement therapy is now available to anyone over the age of 12 and Bolton's Stop Smoking Service can offer help to teenagers.

Record numbers of smokers stubbed in out in Bolton in the six months between April and September, with 1,124 people quitting compared to 811 in the same period last year.

For more information about the service call 01204 462345.