More than a million smokers have quit the habit since the start of the coronavirus crisis, figures have revealed today.

A new report by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) shows 1.1 million people in Britain have quit smoking, with a further 440,000 people trying to quit over the past few months.

The news has been welcomed by the Local Government Association (LGA), who said the findings are a testament to the work of councils’ public health teams.

Cllr Paulette Hamilton, vice chair of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: ‘We need to continue to support people to give up smoking altogether, both through the current crisis and beyond, if we are to save lives in the immediate and longer-term.

’This includes reaching out to those most in need, including preventing children from taking up the habit and developing further health problems later in life, relieving pressure on other services such as the NHS, social care and welfare.’