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Lancashire smokers urged to quit

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Stoptober is now only weeks away and people across Lancashire are being urged to sign up and quit smoking.

As the countdown continues, people will have the chance to make their Stoptober promise at a stop smoking event with a difference at Preston’s St Georges’ Centre, between 11am and 5pm on Friday 18 September.

The centre will be transformed into a sea of music, dance and colour by Britain’s Got Talent finalists Faces of Disco. The hilarious performance will encourage people to quit. People who want to stop can sign up and get advice from health experts.

In Lancashire 19.8% of the population smokes, which is higher than the national average. Figures showed that Lancashire County Council was the most successful local authority in encouraging people to quit in 2014/15, but it still wants more people to give up for good.

Stoptober is a national campaign organised by Public Health England and supported locally by Lancashire County Council.

County Councillor Lorraine Beavers, lead member for health, said: “Smoking is the major cause of poor health across Lancashire.

“More than 192,000 people smoke and although this number is reducing year and year, that’s still more than the national average. It’s also a concern that 11% of young people smoke.

“It’s not easy to stop smoking. I used to smoke, but gave up with the help of my local stop smoking service.

“Stoptober has proven incredibly successful in getting people to quit. Although this is a fun event, there’s a serious message and the Faces of Disco performance should help those who want to quit to get the support they need to give up for good.

“The stop smoking services offer one-to-one support and access to licensed medicines that can help to beat the cravings. These are free to under 16s, pregnant women and people on benefits.

“You are four times more likely to quit with their help, so give them a call today and make your Stoptober promise.”

This year, Stoptober is being supported by national comedians – Bill Bailey, Rhod Gilbert, Al Murray and Shappi Khorsandi.

For more information about Stoptober, visit www.smokefree.nhs.uk/stoptober.

Anyone wanting to stop smoking can call the Central, East and West Lancashire Quit Squad on 0800 328 6297 or the North Lancashire Stop Smoking Service on 01524 845145.

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