Thousands helped to quit smoking

More than 2,200 people across Cumbria managed to give up smoking with help from the NHS last year.

More than 3,500 smokers set quit dates and 2,270 managed to stub out for good with the help of Nicotine Replacement Therapy and one-to-one support.

This is around two-thirds of those who wanted to quit - higher than the national average of 53%.

Research shows that smokers are four times more likely to stop smoking if they use their local NHS service.

Cathy Wynne, associate director of public health at the county's primary care trust, said: "It is really encouraging that so many people in Cumbria have gone smoke-free.

"These figures show that last year, more than 2,200 smokers in Cumbria quit with the free help and advice provided by the NHS."