THE target for persuading smokers to quit their unhealthy habit in 2013/2014 will be missed, senior councillors have been warned.

Health boss Mohammed Khan told the Blackburn with Darwen’s executive board that in the first nine months of the year-long period only 646 people signed up to council’s quitting smoking scheme had succeeded.

This leaves the total well short of that needed to achieve the target of 1,470 in the 12 months to March 31.

Coun Khan said:”The growing use of E-cigarettes is having a big impact.

“We need to have a good look at how they fit in with our drive the stop people smoking and whether they help or not.”