HAMPSHIRE County Council is encouraging smokers this to ditch their unhealthy habit.

Chiefs want as many residents as possible to participate in No Smoking Day by seeking support to quit.

Councillor Judith Grajewski, Hampshire County Council’s executive member for public health, said: "This last year has been very difficult and stressful for many of us, but the good news is that smokers who quit for six weeks or more are happier and experience less anxiety and depression than those who carry on smoking.

"While giving up smoking for good may sound daunting, evidence shows that you are more likely to succeed with the help of a stop smoking service than if you try to quit by yourself. Smokefree Hampshire, the County Council funded stop-smoking service, offers practical solutions, including switching to e-cigarettes, support online, by telephone or via an app, to help you quit in a way that suits you.”

She added, “Quitting isn’t always easy, however, Smokefree Hampshire has already helped over 3000 smokers in the past year and can help you get the right stop smoking aids to prevent you feeling like you need a cigarette. Quitting now really is the best thing you can do to look after your mental and physical health.”

As well as offering information and advice, Smokefree Hampshire can help with stop-smoking aids including nicotine replacement therapy such as patches, gum or inhalers, prescription only stop smoking medicines and e-cigarettes or vapes.

Combining stop-smoking aids with expert help means you are three times as likely to quit than using willpower alone.

For further information on stop smoking support for Hampshire residents, visit www.smokefreehampshire.co.uk.