RESIDENTS are being given a helping hand to lead healthier lifestyles.

Healthy Routes, which is delivered by City Health Care Partnership CIC, is Wigan Council’s health improvement service provider.

It offers free support from health advisors to help people improve their lifestyles through stopping smoking, drinking less alcohol and managing their weight.

Many smokers choose the New Year to quit. According to Public Health England, quitters see benefits quickly with no nicotine in the body and an improved taste and smell in 48 hours.

After a year, the risk of a heart attack halves.

Giving up smoking can also help to improve symptoms of mental health problems.

Smokers are up to four times more likely to successfully quit for good with support from a service like Healthy Routes.

Healthy Routes is encouraging people in the area to get in touch to meet an advisor for one-to-one support which will help them stop smoking and improve their overall health.

There is also a Healthy Routes shop based at Bradshawgate in Leigh.

Healthy Routes’ team leader Karen Mitchinson said: “Healthy Routes is focused on improving the health of people across the borough.

"All advisors are professionally trained and we’re proud of our results.

"The New Year is a great opportunity for our local people to make a resolution to improve their health by stopping smoking and our free, one-to-one support enables them to make long-lasting health improvements.”

As well as reducing smoking, other health improvement services are providing including alcohol reduction, weight management advice, physical activity plans and general wellbeing improvement.

Professor Kate Ardern, Director of Public Health at Wigan Council, said: “One of the biggest benefactors of improving your health if you do smoke is giving up for good.

"If you’re thinking of making 2019 the year you finally quit, or even if you’ve made it a resolution previously but failed, get in touch with Healthy Routes as they have a variety of different support options to find the best way to help you start the new year in a positive way. "

"Don’t just take my word for it though, as there are so many people who have quit for good with their help and are reaping the benefits a smoke free life can bring.”

Healthy Routes’ service is free for people who live, work or are registered at a GP surgery in Wigan borough.

Advisors are based in community venues, including GP surgeries and health centres, as well as over the phone and in two high-street shops, offering one-to-one support.

Residents can also be connected to more specialist support if needed.

To sign up contact 01942 489012, text "HUB" to 61825 (normal network rates apply), book an appointment online at www.healthyroutes.co.uk or call into a Healthy Routes shop.

The Healthy Routes shop addresses are:

Leigh: 65 Bradshawgate, Leigh WN7 4NB

Wigan: 8-10 Crompton Street, Wigan WN1 1YP