SMOKERS are being urged to kick the habit tomorrow — and for the whole of October.

Stoptober, the 28-day no smoking challenge, starts on the same day as smoking with under 18s in the car becomes illegal.

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Support for smokers is being provided by Lancashire County Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council.

The county council is offering free support including texts, social media coaching from celebrities as well as local stop smoking services to provide face-to-face advice.

Julie Trezise, quit squad service manager at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust said: “As a service our mission is to help as many people as possible stop smoking for good.”

Evidence shows people are five times more likely to quit for good if they complete the challenge.

Julie added: “Smoking is one of the biggest causes of illness and preventable death accounting for 80,000 deaths in England a year which is why it’s so important to encourage and support those who want to make a change and lead a healthier life.’’ Smokers who aren’t ready to quit yet are encouraged to pledge to make their homes and cars smokefree through the Lancashire smokefree homes and cars programme.

Over 15,000 people have already signed up to the scheme which includes advice around maintaining a healthy smokefree environment, an optional stop smoking service referral and optional home safety visit from the fire service.

The change in law means that private vehicles must be smokefree if they are enclosed, there is more than one person present and one of them is under 18. The fixed penalty notice fine for offences is £50.

Councillor Mustafa Desai, executive member for health and adult social care at Blackburn with Darwen Council said: “Smoky cars, packed full of toxic tobacco chemicals, are especially deadly to children because they have smaller lungs, faster breathing and less developed immune systems.”

“We have campaigned for smokefree cars for a long time, and we hope the change in the law, along with the extra information and support available will lead to healthier choices by people across Lancashire to keep their cars smokefree.

Call Blackburn with Darwen Stop Smoking Service on 01254 682037.