A HIGHER proportion of smokers in Herefordshire quit during the coronavirus pandemic than the year before, figures suhow.

With quitting success rates rising across England, the charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) said smokers – particularly older ones – have been prompted by health fears from the Covid-19 crisis.

NHS Digital data shows 399 people in Herefordshire set a date to quit using the NHS Stop Smoking Service between April last year and March.

At follow-up meetings held a month later, 208 said they had given up – 52%.

The previous year, 43% of people in Herefordshire said they had successfully quit smoking.

ASH said there is some evidence that the pandemic has changed smokers' relationship to tobacco.

Hazel Cheeseman, deputy chief executive of the charity, added: "Recent research highlighted that younger people appear to have been taking up or going back to smoking in larger numbers.

"It appears likely that for younger people the stress of lockdown has led to more smoking while for older smokers health fears have prompted more quitting.

"Overall, people have been quitting with greater success in the pandemic."

The Department for Health and Social Care said UK smoking rates are at record low levels, and the Government was on track to make England smoke free by 2030.

A spokeswoman added: “We are addressing the damaging health implications of smoking right across the country, especially where rates remain stubbornly high.

"Our new Office for Health Improvement and Disparities will support efforts to level up public health and ensure no communities are left behind."