Smokers who want to take advantage of Sunday's ban by stubbing out for the last time can access a range of services across the district.

As well as several drop-in events being held in Bradford, smokers can also get help over the phone and via the internet.

A balloon release at Bradford College today will celebrate the ban, which comes into place on Sunday at 6am in all public places in England, as well as providing an opportunity for people to get information about kicking the habit.

Red balloons will be launched at 10.30am at the Westbrook Hall entrance to the college.

Shoppers in Keighley will be able to get weekly help, support and advice while browsing in the aisles at Boots in the Airedale Centre. Starting on Thursday and taking place every week, members of Bradford and Airedale's Stop Smoking Service will be available from 11am to 2pm to chat to people wanting to quit.

Customers can approach the team at a support area in the shop to get confidential and free advice from the specialists.

The shop-and-stop sessions are one of a number of ways which Bradford and Airedale Teaching Primary Care Trust (tPCT) is encouraging people to stop smoking.

Madge Boyle, tobacco programme manager at the tPCT, said: "You are four times more likely to succeed in giving up smoking with professional help, so it's really worth getting in touch with the stop smoking service, going to one of the drop-in sessions or contacting your local GP for advice."

A free daytime drop-in at St George's Hall in Bradford will re-start after the ban aimed at shoppers and people working in the city who might not be able to get to their GPs easily. The weekly sessions will start on Monday, August 13, between 9am and 1pm.

Evening sessions will also be available, with Keighley Health Centre hosting the meetings from Wednesday, July 4, from 5.30pm to 6.30pm.

People in Bradford will be able to attend a similar event on Thursday August 9 from 6.30pm to 7.30pm at Bradford Central Library.

Smokers can also seek support from their GPs or directly from the Stop Smoking Service on (01274) 363559.

People who live in the Spenborough area will be able to get support from Kirklees PCT.

Lorraine Bradbury, manager of the Kirklees Stop Smoking Service said their phones had not stopped recently.

"Over the last six weeks the service has been inundated by more than a hundred calls from people wanting help to give up smoking. It seems that many people are using the introduction of the legislation as an opportunity to give up.

"This is a really positive step because many people are saying there is no pleasure in smoking if you can't light up in bars and pubs", she said.

The Kirklees service offers free advice and support, one-to-one appointments and help getting nicotine replacement therapy.

Telephone (01924) 512079 or (01484) 344285 for more information.

For more information about the ban visit www.smokefreeengland.co.uk