RESIDENTS are being urged to stub it out as this year’s Stoptober begins.

The month-long stop smoking campaign is back for a fifth year having swayed a total of 773 Warrington residents to kick the habit in 2015.

During the last five years, Stoptober has helped to lower rates of smoking by 14 per cent in the town.

Paul Roberto, senior Livewire advisor for stop smoking, said: “Stoptober is a great opportunity for smokers across Warrington to quit together alongside friends, family and thousands of other people in our area.

“There has never been a better time to stop smoking with lots of help and support available.

“It doesn’t matter how many times you have tried before, call our specialist stop smoking advisors and take on the challenge this year.

“Quitting is the single best thing you can do for your health and with the help of Livewire stop smoking advisors and the campaign’s support and motivation I am sure we will have another successful Stoptober.”

Fearnhead resident Sue Pottage, 65, managed to quit smoking with help from the Livewire stop smoking team last year.

She said: “I was smoking 30 to 40 cigarettes-a-day which takes a huge chunk out of your pension – I couldn’t afford to buy much else once I’d paid my bills and bought my cigarettes.

“But in the first three months that I have not been smoking I managed to save some money.

“I’ve decorated my bedroom and bought a new bed and bedding with matching curtains – I’ve even treated myself to a new sewing machine bought some new clothes.

“All this would have been impossible if I was still smoking.”