SMOKERS are being encouraged to say goodbye to the cigarette this Christmas.

Public Health England has launched its Health Harms campaign this month to remind smokers about the physical damage caused by smoking.

Andrea Crossfield, chief executive of Healthier Futures, a local social enterprise working to help people in Greater Manchester live longer and healthier lives, said: “Quitting smoking is the single best thing you can do for your health.

“If you stop smoking even a week before Christmas, by December 25 your blood oxygen and carbon monoxide levels will both have returned to normal. Breathing becomes easier and energy levels increase, and your ability to taste and smell is improved.

“It will also save money which could go towards a magical Christmas next year or enjoying more every day pleasures with your family throughout 2017.”

Anyone who smokes in Greater Manchester is being advised to get help to quite through local stop smoking services.

The campaign capitalises on seasonal motivation to make healthy changes.

Fiona Ashton, lead of the Bolton Stop Smoking Service, said: “There has never been a better time to quit.

“Research shows that two-thirds of smokers want to quit and your local stop smoking service can support you to achieve this through friendly, expert advice and support. It doesn’t matter if you have visited them before but it didn’t quite work out, you can access support as many times as you need.

“You don’t need to go through your quit journey alone. As well as our local stop smoking service join together with friends, family and colleagues to support each other through your quit attempt.”

The campaign follows the announcement that Bolton’s smoking cessation provision faces £46,000 loss in funding from Bolton Council as part of proposed budget cuts over the next two years.

The council fund the Smoking Cessation service based at Royal Bolton Hospital which delivers in a mix of drop in sessions and appointments around the town.

Last year 1,812 people accessed stop smoking services which include community quit sessions, one-to-one therapy, hospital inpatient support and pregnancy, pharmacy and GP services.

According to Action on Smoking & Health, Bolton has a smoking rate above the England average with around 18.5 per cent of people in the town who smoke.

Approximately 451,221 people smoke across Greater Manchester and on average, a pack a day smoker will save around £250 each month and can save up to £3,000 a year by going smokefree.

Stop smoking services across Greater Manchester offer free face to face support, with research showing that smokers are four times more likely to stop with specialist NHS support.

Free support and advice across Greater Manchester comes as many will be feeling the pinch of Christmas this year, with some already considering how they could free up money in the run up to next Christmas.