Helen Clifton takes a look at some of the events happening around Greater Manchester soon to help you stop smoking

Bolton

Smokers are being helped to break free from their habit in Bolton - and could win some great prizes along the way.

To encourage people to pack in the habit, a Bolton Primary Care Trust staff member will spend the day chained to a huge plastic cigarette in the town centre, symbolising the 'break free' theme of this year's National No Smoking Day.

Shoppers are being offered the opportunity to pick a combination which could crack the code, break the chains and win them four tickets to visit Legoland.

It is hoped the stunt, designed to reflect the way that smokers are often trapped by their habit, will encourage people to think about quitting.

In addition the Bolton PCT shop, located in Victoria Square opposite the town hall, will be taken over by Bolton Stop Smoking Service between 9.30am and 5pm throughout No Smoking Day on March 10.

The shop will be staffed by an advisor who will be available to give information and help to anyone who wishes to quit and signpost potential quitters to a quit group local to them.

There are 14 local community quit groups that regularly take place in the morning, afternoon and evening throughout Bolton every day of the week apart from Sunday.

To access stop smoking services in Bolton, call 01204 462345 or go to stopsmokingbolton.co.uk

Bury

Do you want to be one of the million people who quit smoking on No Smoking Day? 

If you're in Bury, the local Stop Smoking Service will be on hand outside Jessops in the Millgate Shopping Centre on No Smoking Day between 10am and 4pm to help you kick the habit.

You can talk to the friendly team in confidence, and they can advise you about their services, give top tips for stopping and help you achieve your goals.

Free goody bags, packed with advice to help you along your smoke-free journey, and free and confidential advice and support are available for people who want to stub it out for good now or in the future.

The service can arrange for you to meet with a trained advisor who will help you put your plan to stop smoking into action, and keep you on track.

By quitting you’ll have a healthier lifestyle and a happier purse. Bury Stop Smoking Service also offer flexible appointments and group or individual support, as well as specialist support for pregnant women and young people.

To contact Bury Stop Smoking Service, call 0845 223 9001.

Tameside

Shoppers in Tameside be able to pick up support and advice on how to quit smoking alongside their weekly food supplies this No Smoking Day.

Smokefree Tameside & Glossop are running two No Smoking Day events in the heart of Ashton-Under-Lyne's bustling shopping district in a bid to encourage people to quit for good.

Between 10am and 4pm, there will be a special stop smoking stall set up inside Ashton Arcade's shopping mall, while the local Healthy Bus will be parked up in Ashton Market.

Both will be staffed by a team trained to dispense help and support on how to quit, with one-to-one consultations taking place on the bus. In addition, staff will also be on hand to test people's carbon monoxide levels to see just how dangerous their smoking habit has become.

Alison Holman, campaign and resource officer with Tameside Health Improvement Service, said: "The bus works very well. It is a bit more private, so if you want to go and have a proper chat rather than being in the middle of the market with all the other shopper, it is ideal."

To make a booking in Tameside call 0845 053 3302, or the Health Improvement Team on 0161 366 2000.

Trafford

Smokers in Trafford have a huge choice of opportunities available to quit this No Smoking Day.

Trafford Primary Care Trust are laying on three stalls, all staffed by specialist stop smoking staff, at Trafford General Hospital, Stretford Mall, and Partington Healthy Living Centre. In addition, dozens of GP practices and pharmacies throughout the borough will be providing support to potential quitters.

Advisors will be manning the main information stands, booking appointments, offering advice and doing carbon monoxide readings to establish how much smoking is affecting people's health.

They will also be providing information about Trafford's voucher book scheme, which enables smokers to receive nicotine replacement therapy for the price of a normal prescription.

Trafford General staff, patients and their visitors who are keen to quit can visit the Macmillan Centre between 10am and 3pm. Stretford Mall will be staffed by a larger team who will be giving out advice, booking appointments, directing smokers to their local quit classes across Sale, Old Trafford, and Stretford, and handing out fresh fruit.

And at Partington Healthy Living Centre on Central Road, local health improvement officer Susie Jones will also be on hand to support quitters. Both events take place between 10am and 4pm.

To make an appointment in Trafford, call 0300 456 2400.