UP to 30 people have been trained to give help and support to Redditch smokers wanting to quit.

Redditch has one of the highest smoking rates in the county.

But following the introduction of a smoking cessation officer in the town, a number of pharmacists, nurses and school nurses have now been trained to offer advice on quitting.

Redditch Primary Care Group is spearheading the project, which has been funded by Worcestershire Health Authority for the next year.

But the PCG, which is set to become a trust, has been asked to pump £64,000 a year into the scheme from April 2002.

PCG chief officer Sue Jenkins said: "Between 20 and 30 people have been given training from the smoking cessation officer. They include pharmacists, district nurses and school nurses."

She added: "There is a lot of support now in Redditch for smokers."

Smokers who visit their GP asking for advice on giving up are provided with help, such as free prescriptions for nicotine patches.

They are then given the opportunity to speak to one of the 30 trained smoking cessation advisors and group counselling sessions are also being planned for the future.

Ms Jenkins said it was too early to release figures on the number of smokers who had successfully given up.

A voluntary smoke-free zone was introduced in the Kingfisher Centre in March and a complete ban will be in place next year.