HEALTH chiefs said almost 5,000 people pledged to quit smoking during last month’s Stoptober campaign.

The NHS Quit Squad, which runs services in East and Central Lancashire, said they were delighted with the figure.

Lancashire as a whole had the highest sign up rates in the North West, the team added.

A range of activities to support the campaign were provided, including a sign-up event in Burnley Town Centre.

The team also visited local workplaces to provide advice to employees. Julie Trezise, Quit Squad manager at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We’re pleased to see so many people in Lancashire take control and sign up to the Stoptober challenge.

“People are four times for likely to stop smoking for good with the help of an NHS stop smoking service than by willpower alone and Stoptober is a great time for people to get some extra support and provides a sense of camaraderie.

“It was great to chat to people from all different walks of life throughout the month about their reasons for deciding to quit and the ways it was benefitting them.”