SMOKERS in Chard were being urged to get on the bus and get off cigarettes with the help of the NHS Stop Smoking Service on Friday.

The service stopped outside Chard Guildhall as part of their tour of the county on the community bus, which offers free information and advice to any smoker who feels they are ready to quit.

Nicola Crocker, Stop Smoking advisor, said: "There's never been a better time to quit smoking.

"Since the smoking ban came in last year stopping smoking in pubs, clubs and restaurants we are finding more and more smokers fed up with standing outside in the cold and rain whenever they want to light up a cigarette.

"Figures show that smokers who use their local NHS Stop Smoking Service and use stop smoking aids such as Nicotine Replacement Therapy (e.g. patches or gum), are four times more likely to successfully quit."

Smokers who want to quit can contact the Somerset Stop Smoking Service for free advice and support by calling 08445-689840.