PEOPLE in West Devon are being offered a new weekly stop smoking service as part of a new way of providing health services. The clinic, based in Tavistock, is part of 15 other such services across the county run by NHS health trainers, who are based in areas where help is needed most. The seven health trainers started work with Devon Primary Care Trust earlier in the autumn, and working with local communities, aim to help people lead healthier lives on a range of issues. Stopping smoking is the first area the health trainers are focusing on, while they are trained in other fields. In the new year, they will be able to offer advice on nutrition, stress and losing weight too. Lynne Palmer, assistant head of public health provider services with Devon Primary Care Trust, said: ?The difference with health trainers is that they are based in or near to communities that most need our help. ?The communities are selected using calculations based on a nationally recognised index, which highlights areas of poor health ? often the case in densely populated areas, such as towns and cities.? The health trainer initiative is part of a national programme successfully trialled in the north. Health trainers are also provided in the army and in some prisons nationally. Anyone who wants to sign up to stop smoking in and around Tavistock can simply turn up at Kingdon House, Pym Street on Fridays between 10am and noon. For more information about these clinics or for support in other areas of Devon, people should call 01626 357010.