Newcastle Eagles Basketball players Darius Defoe and Ricky Taylor lent their support to the Stoptober Roadshow on Friday on Northumberland Street. They were keen to point out the health benefits of giving up smoking and the rewards of opting for a healthy lifestyle. They showed their competitive side, taking on the street entertainment in the form of the Fitness brothers outside the Stoptober shack.

The Stoptober team were signing people up to add their own personal quit attempt to the thousands of other smokers who plan to quit for the month of October.

Visitors to the roadshows will received a 28-day step-by-step programme to support them in their smoke free attempt and  Stop smoking advisers were on hand to provide advice and support. Evidence shows that someone quitting who goes 28 days without a cigarette is five times more likely to stay permanently stopped.

Prof Eugene Milne, Director of Public Health at Newcastle City Council, said: “Newcastle City Council is delighted to support the Stoptober campaign for the third year running. Quitting and avoiding smoking are among the very best things you can do to protect and improve your health and the health of those around you.

“Each year we have seen the numbers of people managing to quit are increased by Stoptober – it really helps to make that change with others, and with the support of friends and family.”

22,000 people in the North East have signed up to make a quit attempt over the last two years of the annual quitting event from Public Health England and backed by Fresh.

Stoptober provides smokers with a range of free tools including a new stop smoking pack through the post, a 28-day mobile phone app, text support with daily updates, quitting advice and tips for coping, as well as the encouragement and support from thousands of people quitting together through Stoptober social media channels. To register all you have to do is visit www.smokefree.nhs.uk/Stoptober/