SMOKERS in Worcestershire are being invited to join a national 28 day campaign to quit the habit this October.

The Stoptober campaign is encouraging smokers to take part in the first ever mass quit attempt, starting on Monday, October 1.

The campaign is being launched by the Department of Health and backed by Cancer research UK and the British Heart Foundation.

Dr Frances Howie, assistant director of public health for NHS Worcestershire, said: “After a fantastic summer of hearing inspirational athletes talk about setting goals and achieving them, here is a chance for smokers to achieve a personal best. Giving up smoking is the single most important thing you can do to improve your health and in the current financial climate it is probably the most important thing you can do to improve your finances too. Let’s make this the month that Worcestershire smokers come home with gold.”

NHS Worcestershire has launched a website to help support smokers attempting to give up, with information about Stoptober at stopsmokingworcestershire.nhs.uk as well as offering advice on where people can find their nearest stop smoking service, through the Healthy Lifestyles Hub on 01905 363909 The national campaign is also offering help at smokefree.nhs.uk/Stoptober , where people can sign up for the Stoptober app, and motivational text messages.