MORE than half of Bolton people who vow to quit smoking are successful, new figures have revealed.

Department of Health statistics for the 12 months from April, 2005, to March, 2006, show 56 per cent of smokers who sought professional help to give up were successful for at least four weeks.

The national average is 55 per cent.

Adrian Butterworth, manager of Bolton's Stop Smoking Service, said: "We're really pleased that more and more people are deciding to quit.

"It is doing wonders for the health of the public of Bolton there is no better way of improving long term health than giving up smoking."

The Department of Health figures show that in Bolton more than 3,800 people contacted smoking cessation experts in the 12 months to the end of March and requested help in giving up.

Of those, a total of 2,158 were still not smoking after four weeks, which is 1,032 per 100,000 of the Bolton population aged 16 or over.

Over the last three years, 4,888 people have stubbed it out with the help of Bolton's Stop Smoking Service.

The Bolton Evening News launched a Stub It Out campaign calling for smoking to be banned in enclosed public spaces after figures revealed 29.6 per cent of people in Bolton smoked, compared to the national average of 27 per cent.

In February of this year, MPs voted for such a ban in public places, including pubs, clubs and workplaces.

The ban will be introduced next summer and venues that flout it will receive an on-the-spot fine.

For more information and help to stop, contact Bolton Stop Smoking Service on 01204 462363.