THOUSANDS of smokers could be stubbing out for good today, as efforts to break the habit were stepped up on National No Smoking Day.

Some employers and hospitals across York and North Yorkshire have also urged smokers to bin their fags, banning smoking on their premises.

North Yorkshire Stop Smoking Service was offering drop-in sessions across York and North Yorkshire to help smokers fight their cravings.

It was estimated that 85,000 smokers would be stopping for good today - potentially saving more lives in a year than seat belts, child-proof medicine caps, speed cameras and screening for breast cancer, put together.

In York, the Monkbar Hotel became a no-smoking zone, with staff and guests invited to stub out, including chamber maid Laura Wade and bar supervisor Cameron Stuart.

Drop-in sessions were held in York and in town centres throughout the region, offering information and support to smokers who wanted to stop.

Hospitals at Malton, Whitby, Scarborough and Bridlington were today declared completely smoke-free.

The decision by the Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Primary Care Trust (PCT) and the Scarborough Health Trust also affected trust clinics and offices throughout the region.

It put a stop to hospital patients who pop out into the car park for a cigarette - the "dressing gown smokers" - as well as staff and visitors smoking in the grounds.

About a quarter of the two trusts' 850 staff are smokers.

The Scarborough Health Trust's chief executive, Alison Guy, said: "We're here not only to provide health care, but also to look at ways in which we can help prevent illness. With that in mind, it doesn't make sense that we allow, and therefore appear to condone, smoking, which causes heart, lung and respiratory diseases, speeds ageing and delays recovery."

To help staff quit, Flis MacDonald, the trusts' specialist smoking adviser, has given counselling and advice, handed out nicotine replacement patches and given training to help staff deal with people who are reluctant to comply with the ban.

The head of North Yorkshire Stop Smoking Service, Margaret Hewitson, said: "Quitting is the best thing a smoker can do to improve their health and the health of those around them.

"The positive effects of stopping can be felt almost immediately, as well as there being many long-term health benefits, including a decreased risk of heart disease or lung cancer."

No Smoking Day, which began in 1984, has already helped 1.2 million smokers give up, saving the NHS £1.5 billion over 22 years (£6.9 million a year) in treatment for diseases caused by smoking. For information about clinics and stop smoking services in North Yorkshire, phone North Yorkshire Stop Smoking Service on 01904 663310.

Case study: Mike stubs it out

Among those giving up smoking today was Evening Press photographer Mike Tipping, right.

Mike, 39, has smoked since he was 17, consuming 30 a day at his peak.

He gave up for three years, but lapsed after having the odd cigarette with a pint.

But this time, he says, it's for good.

"Last time I gave up because I was always getting colds," he said.

"It was relatively easy to stop as I'd been ill anyway, so I already had three days of not smoking behind me.

"Three years later I had a few in the pub and arrogantly thought I'd be in control and I wouldn't start habitually smoking again.

"Now I smoke between five and ten a day and I'm rather an outsider when I smoke, which certainly wasn't the case when I first started.

"My kids want me to stop too, as, although I never smoke in front of them, they know how bad it is for me and if they so much as smell cigarette smoke on me I get a good nagging."

After a recent medical examination, a doctor told Mike his chest sounded like that of someone ten years older.

Mike said he was prepared for a struggle. "I'll just have to bite the bullet. I know from before how you constantly have to remind yourself why you're not smoking, because you will crave cigarettes, and you will crave them a lot because they're addictive."

Mike will try a variety of methods to help him kick the habit, such as hypnotherapy and acupuncture.

See our weekly health page for updates on his progress.

Updated: 10:40 Wednesday, March 09, 2005