THE biggest stop-smoking campaign is coming to north Essex.

The NHS stop smoking service, run by Anglian Community Enterprise and funded by Essex County Council, aims to convince a record number of people to quit the habit.

Smokers will be offered nicotine replacement therapy, a team of advisers and a leaflet drop.

Co-ordinator Sue White said: “We are throwing our full weight behind the national campaign by Public Health England and our aim is to achieve a record number of local quitters.

“We know many people’s New Year resolution is to quit, so we are offering every possible assistance.

“It doesn’t matter how many times people have tried to stop smoking, we encourage them to try again. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

People who sign up will be able to take advantage of the free nicotine replacement therapy from participating pharmacies in Colchester and Tendring.

Leaflets will be put through the doors of 30,000 homes and members of the stop-smoking team will hand out information in Morrisons, in Harwich, on January 6 and in Clacton on January 7.

A team of advisers will be outside Colchester Town Hall on January 10.

The organisation has also set up a Twitter account, @ACT_ StopSmoking, for people to track the programme.

Ms White said: “We treat each person as an individual. There’s no single, off-the-shelf solution. A trained member of our team will talk with the person to see what might work best for them.

“If you are thinking of swapping your cigarettes for e-cigarettes, you can still get free advice and support, but at the moment the NHS is not allowed to prescribe them, as they have not been regulated.”

People will get support for ten weeks, including advice on managing cravings, regular carbon monoxide checks and information on which treatment is best.

To find out more, visit Cornerstone, 5-7 Sir Isaac’s Walk, Colchester, or call 01206 545134.