SMOKERS in Tavistock are being offered help to kick the habit with support from NHS Devon's Stop Smoking service.

Tavistock residents can get help to quit smoking through a confidential, one-to-one clinic run by NHS Devon, with support from a stop smoking advisor.

Greg Price, a health improvement specialist for NHS Devon, said: 'We get good feedback from people attending our clinics. The support is free and we can organise a prescription for nicotine replacement therapies such as patches and gum. Research shows smokers are up to four times more likely to stop smoking successfully if they get support from their local NHS Stop Smoking Service, rather than relying on will-power alone.' Mr Price said that a 20-a-day smoker could save up to £2,000 a year if they quit. 'We are able to help people quit smoking through one-to-one clinics or group meetings and can help when other methods have proved unsuccessful.

'So for those who have tried to give up several times and perhaps feel nothing will work, we may have the solution. You don't have to be ready to stop there and then and our stop smoking specialist advisors are on hand to help find the best method to help you quit.'

The NHS Stop Smoking Service will be held at Tavistock Clinic on Plymouth Road every Friday from 1.30pm to 4.30pm. The clinic is run on an appointment only basis — to book email [email protected]">[email protected] or call 01884 836024.