Smokers in the Vale of York are being urged to give up the habit during October as part of a new national campaign.

Stoptober is the first ever mass quit attempt launched by the Department of Health, which is targeting the nation’s eight million smokers.

Research shows that if smokers can stop for 28 days, they are five times more likely to stay quit.

A number of celebrities, major companies, councils and stop smoking services across the country will be supporting the campaign.

Professor Dame Sally Davies, the UK’s chief medical officer, said: “We are launching Stoptober on 1 October because smoking remains the biggest cause of premature death in England, accounting for over 100,000 deaths in the UK every year.

“This is the first time we have launched a mass quit attempt of this kind and if people want to stop smoking and take part in the 28-day programme, there is considerable support and advice available.”

For more information, call the North Yorkshire Stop Smoking Service on 0300 303 1603.

For more information about the national campaign, visit www.smokefree.nhs.uk/Stoptober or www.facebook.com/Stoptober.

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