700 Smokers Die In Dorset Every Year

10 March 2010, 07:03 | Updated: 10 March 2010, 07:08

More than 700 smokers die in Dorset every year because of their habit.

Now the NHS is urging smokers to break free on No Smoking Day.

They can get help at 40 SmokeStop venues across the county, and it's proved being supported to give up makes them four times more likely to give up for good.

Linda Ross helps smokers give up. She said:

"In Dorset around one in seven adults currently smoke compared to around one in four nationally. Whilst this is good for the health of local people, there are still over seven hundred people dying in the county each year as a direct result of their habit.

"For people who are serious about giving up smoking, doing it with SmokeStop is by far the most effective way of doing so. Last year we saw over two thousand people successfully quit with our help."

For details of local support including groups, individual sessions and SmokeStop trained pharmacists, smokers are advised to visit call 0800 00 76653 or text IQUIT to 07786 202248.

Today, the SmokeStop team will also be at Tesco Dorchester between 2pm and 5pm, and Boots pharmacy in Christchurch between 12 noon and 2pm.