Record numbers of region's smokers quit

SMOKERS in North Lincolnshire at the fastest rate since records began.
Latest figures from the Department of Health show 378 people in the region successfully gave up smoking between April and September 2009, up 23 per cent on the previous year, and the highest since records began in 2001.
Twice as many pregnant women are also kicking the habit, with 12 having successfully completed the NHS Stop Smoking programme, compared to just six over the same period last year.
Tony Scrase-Walters, 67, recently quit his 50-year addiction, which saw him smoke up to 80 cigarettes a day.
He said: "It's the toughest thing I've ever had to do.
"I haven't smoked since November but until I've done a year smoke-free I'd say I'm still in danger of slipping back to square one, all it takes is one cigarette and all the hard work goes out of the window.
"I'll get really strong cravings around four or five times a day, the worst ones are on a morning, I've been having a fag and a cup of coffee for breakfast for 50 years, it's a hard habit to break."
The NHS Stop Smoking service sets a quit date with patients and GPs, before a check-up after 31 days to determine whether the patient has successfully quit smoking.