SMOKERS in the region are quitting at twice the rate as the rest of the country.

The latest Government figures for 2006 show that the proportion of people in the North-East population who smoked fell from 29 per cent to 25 per cent.

The statistics show an even bigger decline among female smokers, with the proportion falling from 30 per cent in 2005 to 25 per cent in 2006.

Among men, the smoking rate fell three per cent from 28 to 25 per cent.

Figures for North Yorkshire were unavailable, but nearly 6,000 more people in Yorkshire and Humberside have quit smoking since the start of the workplace ban.

The sharp fall in the North-East appears to reflect a combination of factors, including a number of hardhitting, high-profile campaigns.

More recently, last July's national ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces and the Government's decision to make it illegal to buy tobacco products below the age of 18 have increased pressure on smokers to give up.

Ailsa Rutter, the director of Fresh, Smokefree North-East, said: "The new figures are very encouraging, and the four per cent decline shows that our comprehensive and committed strategy has made a valuable contribution to changing the attitudes of the people in the North-East towards smoking.

"However, we cannot become complacent.

We aim to build upon our recent successes in order to tackle smoking further, and we want to help the remaining 25 per cent of smokers realise the huge benefits of becoming smoke-free. California currently has an impressive rate of 13 per cent, and that is what we are aiming for."

For advice on quitting, go to www.freshne.com or call 0800-169- 0169.