Stoptober starts nationwide, alongside ban on smoking in cars.

Smokers across the country are being encouraged to give up smoking. Alongside this, anyone caught smoking in a car with a passenger under the age of 18 will face a ÂŁ50 fine.

Published 30th Sep 2015

Smokers in the Viking FM area are being encouraged to quit smoking this October. This is a part of the nationwide campaign encouraging people to drop the habit.

Many people are not just giving up cigarettes but also alcohol this month, whilst many are also doing it to help raise money for charities.

Mhairi Rees who works for Hull's stop smoking service has been telling Viking FM how many people quit for different reasons but one of the biggest benefits is to their health.

She told us that many people they help have been told by doctors to give up to improve their health.

This also works alongside protecting children’s health, with the new ban which means it is now illegal to smoke with a child in the car.

Mhairi explained how it’s vital this ban has come into place as children are particularly vulnerable as their organs are still developing.

Smoking in a confined space, such as a car, means that children can breathe in a large amount of smoke which can lead to health problems such as asthma, and can even affect them in adult life.

Mhairi is urging anyone who wants to stop smoking to contact their local stop smoking support group, she explains that you’re more likely to successfully quit with the right help.

If you have a Stoptober story you would like to share with us please contact our news team: newsdesk@vikingfm.co.uk.