SMOKERS across the Bradford District are being urged to call it quits as Stoptober returns for its eighth year.

Research has shown that while two thirds of smokers want to quit, they don’t make a quit attempt or have a fear of failure.

Smokers can get free support through Bradford Council’s Living Well website and by signing up to the Stoptober campaign. Smokers will get access to the Stoptober app, Facebook messenger bot, daily emails, a Personal Quit Plan and Stoptober online communities.

The Living Well Service can also help people to quit from shisha and the use of chewing tobacco like Paan, Naswar and Ghutka.

4 out of 5 people in the Bradford District don’t smoke. But even though smoking rates are lower than ever, there were still over 73,000 smokers and over 2,000 still dying from smoking related illness in the district in 2018.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s executive member for healthy people and places said: "Our aim is to create a smoke free generation and this starts with existing smokers improving their long term health and their family’s health by quitting this October. It’s not too late to make a change in lifestyle. Even though smoking rates are at the lowest ever, there are still too many people across the district dying from smoking related illnesses and living with long term health issues because of smoking.

"We know quitting smoking is not easy but Stoptober is the right time to try with the amount of support available through the Living Well Service, the Stoptober campaign and with the help of your family and friends."

You can contact the Living Well Stop Smoking Service on 01274 437700 for free support across the district.