A PHARMACY has taken on a new role in the fight against smoking.

As well as dispensing prescriptions for nicotine replacement products such as patches, M and M Chemists at Meadowfield is giving direct help to quitters.

Two of its pharmacists and three technicians have been trained by the Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust as advisors.

The advisors ask people about their habit, their reason for giving up, previous attempts to quit as well as times and situations that could test their resolve.

The firm is the first in the area to offer the service - it is being run as a pilot scheme - which has until now been provided only at GP surgeries.

If the scheme proves successful it could be extended.

Pharmacist Stewart Cant said: "This is a very rewarding scheme to be involved in.

"So far our team has advised seven clients, several of whom have successfully stopped smoking for several weeks now.

"Response to the scheme has been very positive, particularly access to an advisor.

"The advantage of the scheme is that it is letting surgery nurses get on with something else and making it easier for people who don't want to go to the surgery.

"We hope it will increase the number of people who decide to give up."

The scheme has been running since early December but is now being promoted in the run up to National No Smoking Day next month.

The trust's smoking cessation advisor Iain Miller said: "If this pilot is successful we hope to develop a similar service in other pharmacies in the area.''