Academy youngsters Ryan Fulton and Daniel Trickett-Smith helped put the 'stop' into Stoptober when they led calls for smokers to join a new 28-day quitting challenge.

Research shows that those who stop smoking for the period of a month are five times more likely to stay smoke-free and so in partnership with LFC, a new national campaign called Stoptober will aim to help smokers achieve this goal throughout October. 

Clive Cook, LFC Academy education and welfare officer, said: "We all know smoking is detrimental to our health and Stoptober is a fantastic campaign, which will really help encourage quitters to work together and give up cigarettes for good.

"We are very happy to be supporting this initiative to help show ways to improve health and fitness for people of all ages."

As part of the Stoptober campaign, those who want to stub-out smoking for good will receive a special support pack as well as daily support and encouragement via the Stoptober app - available for Smartphone - and a Facebook page.

The scheme seeks to infrom about the positives that go with quitting smoking. Aside from financial gains, individuals will also experience physical improvements including a better sense of smell, taste and more energy.

Longer term, those who stop smoking reduce their risk of heart disease and lung cancer as well as protecting those around them from second-hand smoke.

Smoking is the biggest cause of premature death in England and each year it accounts for over 100,000 deaths in the UK and one-in-two long-term smokers will die prematurely from a smoking disease.

For more information and to join the Stoptober challenge of its kind, click here>>