QUITTING cigarettes is no laughing matter – but some of Britain’s top comics are helping Lancashire smokers kick the habit.
Just over one in five of the county’s population are said to smoke but they are being urged to banish the demon weed as part of the Stoptober initiative.
And for 2014, leading British comedians such as Paddy McGuinness, Al Murray and Lee Nelson are asking addicts to swap ‘fags for gags’ to help them through a 28-day programme to abandon smoking. County councillor Azhar Ali, Lancashire’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “Smoking kills and is a major cause of poor health across our county.
“With more people smoking in Lancashire than the national average, we must take action to get people to quit. It’s not easy to stop but research shows that people are much more likely to give up for good with support from stop smoking services.
“That’s what Stoptober is all about, so get in touch with our stop smoking services today.”
The campaign has begun to get people signed up, ready to start the Stoptober scheme on October 1. Those looking to stop locally can call East Lancashire’s ‘quit squad’ on 0800 328 6297 or visit www.smokefree.nhs.uk/stoptober
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