SMOKING is still a serious problem in Bolton — but there has never been a better time for those who want to quit.

Tuesday, March 11 is No Smoking Day and for those who need assistance to give up the puff, it is the ideal time to find it.

The campaign, run by the British Heart Foundation, helps smokers who want to quit by creating a supportive environment and by highlighting sources of help and advice available.

Data from Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) states that 20.5 per cent of adults in Bolton smoke, with 10 people dying each week in Bolton from smoking related illnesses.

But this figure has dropped continuously since 2001 when it was 30 per cent, showing that more people are either not starting in the first place, or are successfully quitting for good.

Former 10-a-day smoker Oliver King, from Kearsley, believes that to successfully quit, a smoker has to have a reason – and for him, it was when his partner Chelsea Foley became pregnant in September 2013 with their son Harley, now eight months.

Mr King, aged 25, said: “When I found out that Chelsea was pregnant I knew I had to pack it in. I needed to start thinking about something other than myself. I didn’t want anything to do with it after then.

“When I was in work one day I got a phone call from Chelsea asking me to go home. When she gave me the news I was so happy. We both were because she’d had a miscarriage a few months before, which was devastating for the both of us.

“Seeing her bump growing was all the more reason for me to stop too. The only way I can explain it is that you only stop when you really want to, or there is a reason to do so, and then it’s half the battle. In the past I didn’t want to quit, so easily fell back into it.”

Mr King a plasterer and joiner, started smoking when he was about 17 years old.

He said: “It’s strange — I’ve always been one to go to the gym and I don’t drink, but smoking was something I just did. I’d stop for a while then go on holiday and straight away start again.

“I have tried to quit a few times and even managed four months once – but started up again. I also tried the e-cigs and a vaporiser which did stop me smoking but I just didn’t like the taste of them and it wasn’t the same.

“I was really surprised that it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be given my failed attempts in the past. I don’t have the cravings at all now.”

Mr King says although he found his reason to quit, there is plenty of help for people who need a push in the right direction.

He added: “I would definitely advise anyone who wants to quit smoking to seek help with their doctor. Some people can do so just by chewing gum, others need patches — but the most important thing is, the help is there if you need it.”

Dr Colin Mercer, Clinical Director for Clinical Governance and Safety at NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Smoking is a serious problem in Bolton. Although the number of smokers in the borough has reduced in recent years, about a fifth of adults still smoke. This is the most significant, preventable cause of ill health and premature death in Bolton, as smoking is associated with heart disease, respiratory conditions, and some cancers.

“Stopping smoking can be very challenging, especially for those who have smoked for a long time, but there is support out there to help you. The first step is to speak to your GP, who can provide advice and may enrol you in a stop smoking clinic or prescribe nicotine replacement therapy.”

To find out more about No Smoking Day visit nosmokingday.org.uk.