People who want to kick their smoking habit are being urged to make a pledge to quit in the year 2000.

Smoking project worker Dianne Woodall is gathering pledges from Bradford's would-be ex-smokers and will release a balloon for every one, with their name attached, on national No Smoking Day on March 8.

She is planning balloon releases from Bradford city centre and Keighley town centre and hopes that making a commitment will be the extra incentive some smokers need.

"It would be that extra push for people. It's about helping people who want to stop - there are a lot of people out there who want to quit.

"It's an incentive to people, so they can say: 'I'm going to make that commitment'.

"It's all about planning and preparing and so if people make the decision to do it they might have a date in mind, and they have time to prepare their strategies and themselves for that day."

Dianne, who works for Bradford District Health Promotion Service, said anyone who telephones to pledge their commitment to stop smoking in 2000 can receive a helpful information leaflet.

And Dianne has contacted health professionals, such as practice nurses, to gain more pledges from smokers who have sought help to kick the habit.

National research has shown that as many as 70 per cent of smokers want to give up.

Almost three in every ten adults in the country are smokers, and the habit is most prevalent in the 20-24 age group.

Experts who help people to stop smoking advise advance preparation for the times when they will want a cigarette out of habit and to make sure they get rid of anything to do with smoking - especially cigarettes, lighters and ashtrays - before the stop day.

Dianne is also asking ex-smokers for their success stories, which can be used to help others kick the habit.

Anyone who wants to pledge that they will quit smoking this year should ring Dianne Woodall on (01274) 223943.

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