New bid to stop people smoking

'There will probably never be a better time to give up,' says the council.

Dr Jeremy Leach, Wealden's Public Health Development Manager, said: 'Around 1.3 million smokers used this day last year to quit. Many of them will have succeeded and will now be enjoying a smoke-free life.

Wealden is supporting the national no smoking campaign.

As one of the district's biggest employers, Wealden is now holding counselling sessions, with the help of the local NHS, for employees who want to give up.

So far two staff members who attended the sessions haven't smoked for five weeks and have no intention of lighting-up again.