Trained stop smoking specialists from the council's Stop Smoking service are staffing the clinics, giving advice on how to quit, and information about the support services available.

The clinics are at the following locations:

• ASDA, Roehampton, every Saturday, 12noon to 5pm until November 2
• ASDA Clapham Junction, every Sunday 12noon to 4pm until November 3.

Next month is Stoptober, a national campaign that encourages people to quit smoking for 28 days. There are smokers who manage to quit on their own, but there is very good evidence that with professional help you are four times more likely to successfully quit smoking. Staying continuously quit for 28 days makes you five times more likely to stop for good.

With the start of the new school year, The Wandsworth Stop Smoking Service is also focusing on helping young people quit.

It has been working alongside the charity organisation Catch 22 to deliver Operation Smoke Storm. This programme helps young people change their attitudes to smoking and is currently being delivered in five borough secondary schools. Last year 105 students quit smoking completely as a result of the support provided by Catch 22.

This term more stop smoking sessions will be delivered in schools, following successful sessions in ARK Putney Academy and Southfields Academy earlier this year.

Director of public health for Wandsworth, Houda Al-Sharifi, said: "Helping people to stop smoking is vital, because smoking is the single biggest cause of preventable deaths in Wandsworth. A fifth of borough residents are smokers but we know that 70 per cent of them want to quit."

The Wandsworth Stop Smoking Service provides a free 24 hour helpline. Ring 0800 389 7921 or visit www.stopsmokingwandsworth.co.uk

September 16, 2013