Smoking is still the single largest preventable cause of death in England – estimated to account for 64,000 deaths annually.

A recent survey with 5,000 local residents showed that 1 in 14 adults currently smoke in Warrington, and that currently 1 in 10 pregnant women in Warrington smoke at the time of their delivery, which is higher than the level for England.

Quitting is one of the most important things you can do not just for your own health, but also for your family. It’s never too late to quit smoking.

Smokers are at an increased risk of diseases, such as diabetes, heart attack, emphysema, bronchitis and stroke. Research released last year also identified smoking as one of twelve risk factors associated with an increased risk of dementia.

LiveWire Warrington offers a comprehensive stop smoking programme which has successfully helped thousands of smokers in the borough quit. By visiting www.livewirewarrington.co.uk/lifestyles/stop-smoking/ you can access a range of friendly support and advice from the team, including 1to 1 appointments.

David Herne, Director of Public Health at Warrington Borough Council said “No smoking day – which this year marks its 40th anniversary – is a great time for us to unite and support all those on their quitting journey.

“Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health and will bring a huge range of health and financial benefits. Getting the right support is so important and we are using this years no smoking day to remind people that there is a range of support on offer in Warrington - and that it’s never too late to quit.”

While smoking rates have reduced considerably in recent years there are still over 5.3 million adults in England who smoke, and it remains the single largest preventable cause of death in the country.

When you stop smoking, there are almost immediate improvements to your health. Straight away your body will begin to repair itself. After 8 hours your oxygen levels will return to normal, after a further two days your lungs will start clearing out smoking debris, after three days breathing will become easier, and within weeks your heart attack risk begins to drop.

In addition, on average, smokers spend £38.59 a week on tobacco. That means they could have around £2,000 more to spend a year by quitting.

For free support to quit smoking, search smokefree.