Health Minister Tessa Jowell - currently involved in an embarrassing row over Formula One tobacco advertising - has pulled out of presenting awards to former smokers.

The Department of Health confirmed she would not be at the Quitter of the Year ceremony in London. "She has a pressing, personal engagement," said a spokeswoman, who insisted it had nothing to do with the row.

The inaugural event is being organised by the anti-smoking charity Quit. Eight people who have successfully given up smoking are in the running for the title of Quitter of the Year.

Ms Jowell was to have presented the winner with travel vouchers worth £2,000 and a bronze statuette of a person jumping for joy and throwing away a cigarette. She is believed to have been invited soon after the event was arranged at the start of the summer.

Television actress Lesley Nightingale - who plays Bel Simpson in Brookside - will now present the prizes. Lesley had been invited to the event as a celebrity guest because she used to work as a counsellor on Quit's helpline.

A spokeswoman for the charity said on Friday: "We are disappointed that the minister cannot come along but fortunately we have got Lesley Nightingale."

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