A record number of smokers in Hounslow stubbed out the habit during Stoptober.

A huge 731 tobacco users in the borough took part in this year's challenge, with over 300 adults registering with the NHS Hounslow Stop Smoking Service which provided help and support to give up cigarettes.

Around 149 people also attended NHS stop smoking clinics to set quit dates with the team during the month of October, as part of the services' free programme and were entered into a prize draw to win an iPad.

The lucky winner was Roshan Patel who after 16 years has gone smoke-free for more than four weeks with the help of Lavina Ramlingam, one of the team’s smoking cessation facilitators.

He said: “It feels brilliant. The service accommodated my lifestyle and the stop smoking advisor gave me good advice and made the effort of constantly phoning me for my patches. It worked and now I have given up.”

“I urge every smoker to seek support to give up cigarettes"

According to research smokers who can stop for 28 days as part of Stoptober, are fives times more likely to extinguish the habit for good.

Councillor Ed Mayne, cabinet member for public health and leisure at Hounslow Council said: “This year Stoptober provided smokers with more engaging and personalised support than ever - which is key to quitting for good.

“Congratulations to those who have made it 28 days smoke free following Stoptober, the health benefits to giving up smoking are countless.

“I urge every smoker to seek support to give up cigarettes; it’s readily available in Hounslow.”

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There are an estimated 30,000 smokers in Hounslow and between 2013 and 2014 the local services helped more than 1,500 people quit smoking.

The Hounslow Stop Smoking Service is part of Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare (HRCH) NHS Trust, and has been running for over 10 years offering free weekly drop-in clinics, a free six week programme, and access to nicotine replacement therapy such as patches, inhalers and medicine.

Smokers can sign up for free support online at HRCH Stop Smoking ; or call 020 8630 3255; or v isit local stop smoking clinics