SALISBURY district council's environmental services team will be doing its bit to persuade everyone to give up cigarettes on National No Smoking Day, on March 10.

Environmental health officers from the council will be on a special stall at the Cross Keys shopping mall on the day.

They will give out information leaflets with advice on how to give up smoking.

Other free items being handed out will include baby bibs warning of the health effects smoking has on babies, balloons, car air fresheners and other colourful items to attract the attention of smokers.

Portfolio holder for environment and transport Dennis Brown said: "We are doing our bit to help smokers who are looking for a way out of their habit.

"Surveys show that 72 per cent of smokers would like to stop and 83 per cent wish they had never started in the first place.

"Not only is smoking very bad for your health, it's also bad for your wealth.

"If you are determined to stop, make National No Smoking Day your day and visit our stall to receive some very handy tips on how to make giving up that little bit easier."

About 13 million adults in the UK smoke - that is, 29 per cent of all men and 25 per cent of all women. Smoking is highest among those aged 20-34.

Every year, about 120,000 smokers in the UK die as a result of their habit.

But stopping smoking at any age increases life expectancy.

Even smokers who stop between the ages of 65 and 74 have a better life expectancy than those who continue to smoke beyond 75. A smoker who has suffered from a heart attack can halve the risk of a second heart attack by stopping smoking.

Stopping smoking before the age of 35 can reduce a smoker's health risks to the same as those of a lifelong non-smoker.

Mr Brown added: "Please come to our stall, and remember, it's never too late to stop."