Now in its sixth year Stoptober, which runs throughout October, has helped more than a million smokers across England to quit. It’s based on research that shows if you can stop smoking for 28 days, you are five times more likely to stay smoke-free for good.

This year, Stoptober will encourage smokers to find the most suitable support for them, rather than trying to go “cold turkey”. People who sign up will be offered a range of free support including an app, daily emails, Facebook Messenger and encouragement from the Stoptober online community on Facebook.

They will also be given information on how to get expert face-to-face advice from local stop smoking services. People who use stop smoking aids and who get face-to-face support from their local stop smoking service are up to four times more likely to quit successfully.

Wandsworth Council provides a free Stop Smoking service offering confidential face-to-face advice and support from specialist advisers, as well as free stop smoking materials and medication such as Nicotine Replacement Therapy.

Wandsworth’s smokers who are unable to commit to the four- to six-week, face-to-face council programme can call a telephone support service for residents. Call “Stop Smoking London” on 03001231044 for more information (the first call isn't free but subsequent calls are as they are initiated by the service).

Patrick Sutton gave up a 40-year smoking habit after getting help from the Wandsworth Stop Smoking Service. He was smoking up to 80 cigarettes a day and was finding it difficult to quit a habit he enjoyed.

“I knew I would need help from someone but never did I expect the level of help, commitment, encouragement and empathy I was about to receive. Without that 15-20 minute chat every week my determinations would have faded weeks ago. I’m now three months non-smoking and look forward to the rest of my life being smoke-free.”

The council’s health spokesman Cllr Paul Ellis said, “Patrick’s story shows that however much smoking is part of your life, you can quit if you get the right sort of support. Face-to-face meetings with our stop smoking team have helped a lot of people, but there’s plenty of other ways you can get support, including online or over the phone.

“Make a start by signing up to Stoptober and finding out what help is available. It’s the single most important thing you can do to improve your health.”

Sign up for Stoptober 

To access personalised support from the Stop Smoking Service to help you give up any tobacco product, including shisha and support with using e-cigarettes, visit www.wandsworth.gov.uk/stopsmoking

Call the telephone helpline on 0300 123 1044