SMOKERS in Three Rivers are being urged to quit the habit. Two organisations are offering support to smokers who want to stop.

A Northwood hospital is offering a Stop Smoking Service for staff, their families and patients keen to give up smoking.

The free service is open to anyone who is serious about giving up smoking and offers them the chance to take part in a support programme, which starts in September.

At the weekly sessions, staff from Hillingdon Primary Care Trust will be providing support to anyone who signs up, including behavioural techniques to help them abstain from smoking, and advice on Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT).

NRT will be made available during the programme, with prescription charges applying where appropriate.

Meanwhile, a series of new, free, stop smoking sessions are being held by the Smoke-Free Three Rivers Partnership. The sessions will involve one-to-one support and advice from trained smoking cessation specialists, and take place weekly, from Thursday, September 1.

The sessions have been introduced by the new Smoke-Free Three Rivers Partnership, as part of a move to create a smoke-free district.

The partnership, which includes Three Rivers District Council, Watford and Three Rivers Primary Care Trust, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue and Hertfordshire Constabulary, recently celebrated its sixth week of discussions.

The stop smoking sessions will take place every Thursday, beginning on September 1, from 2pm to 4pm at Three Rivers House, Northway, Rickmansworth.

Residents who wish to take advantage of the sessions can telephone freephone 0800 389 3998 to book an appointment or for more information about the service.