More smokers say: We want to give up

Calls to the NHS Stop Smoking Helpline rose sixfold in January with 15,000 people from across the UK calling the number.

And Bolton health workers say the picture nationally is being mirrored in the town.

Those who call the Stop Smoking helpline in Bolton are referred to the town's Fresh Focus team which last year helped 990 people in the town to quit.

Across the UK, 200,000 people quit smoking with help from NHS stop-smoking services in 2004 - a record figure.

Last autumn the Bolton Evening News' began a Stub It Out campaign and in January a national television advertising campaign was launched to encourage people to quit.

Fresh Focus smoking cessation manager Adrian Butterworth said: "We are getting encouraging results which show that more and more smokers are determined to give up. National and local advertising campaigns seem to be paying off and we would encourage more people to come forward and give up smoking for the sake of their own health and others around them."

The Bolton Evening News launched its Stub It Out campaign to call for a ban in the town on smoking in pubs, restaurant and buildings open to the public.

Mr Butterworth said our campaign had raised awareness of the dangers of smoking among Bolton people. But he said there was still a long way to go.

According to figures released at the weekend, smoking has killed 6.3 million people in the UK over the last 50 years.

Across the country, around 12 million adults still smoke.

In Bolton, 29.6 per cent of people smoke and health chiefs have to get the figure down to 27 per cent by the end of the year to meet government targets.

In areas such as Hall i' th' Wood 65 per cent of people smoke.

Bolton Council now says it is likely to lobby Parliament for permission to bring in a smoking ban by the end of the year.

Latest figures show 30 towns across England and Wales are considering the same move, following in the footsteps of Liverpool who have a Bill going through Parliament at present.