SUPPORT is available for smokers in the district seeking to stub-out the habit.

A range of help is on offer and people are being urged to use this month, which sees the staging of the ninth annual Stoptober campaign, to give-up the cigs.

Free support can be obtained via Bradford Council’s Living Well service – at mylivingwell.co.uk or by calling 01274 437700.

And by signing-up to Stoptober – at nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking – smokers can access an app, Facebook group and text and email support, plus a personal quit plan.

Smoking rates in the Bradford district have fallen to their lowest-ever level, but last year there were still over 72,000 smokers – which is above the regional and national average.

District health chiefs say that with the current coronavirus pandemic and the onset of winter illnesses, there has never been a better time to give-up smoking.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s executive member for healthy people and places, said: “This year has made us all look at how we live our lives and how we can improve our health to fight coronavirus.

“Quitting smoking is vitally important to fight against any of the winter respiratory illnesses that take hold each year.

“We know quitting smoking is not easy, but Stoptober is the right time to try and the health benefits could be seen within days.

“There is support available through the Living Well service and the Stoptober campaign.

“Our aim is to create a smoke-free generation and this starts with existing smokers improving their long-term health by quitting this month. It’s not too late to make a change in lifestyle, no matter what your age.

“Even though smoking rates are at the lowest-ever level, there are still too many people across the district dying from smoking-related illnesses and living with long-term health issues because of smoking.”

Research has shown that if a smoker can quit for 28 days, they are five times more likely to make a permanent lifestyle change.

Sarah Muckle, the district’s director of public health, said: “It’s really encouraging to see smoking rates in Bradford district have dropped again within the last year but there is a way to go as we still have more smokers in the district than the national average.

“Giving-up smoking is the best thing a smoker can do for their health and Stoptober is a great opportunity to try to break the habit.”