HEALTH workers, patients and visitors were among those who stubbed their cigarettes out for the last time yesterday.

Bosses at two North Yorkshire health trusts chose No Smoking Day to implement their ban on smoking on their premises, which includes the grounds and car parks.

Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Primary Care Trust and Scarborough and North-East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust have been working towards the ban since the autumn.

Healthcare trust chief executive Alison Guy said: "We are here not only to provide healthcare, but also to look at ways in which we can help prevent illness.

"With that in mind, it does not make sense that we allow, and therefore appear to condone, smoking, which causes heart, lung and respiratory diseases, speeds ageing and delays recovery."

The first steps towards a similar move are being taken by neighbouring South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust, which yesterday announced a review of its smoking policy.

Bosses decided on the review in the light of a Government White Paper that recommends hospitals become smoke-free by the end of next year.

* SHOPPERS were encouraged to quit the habit yesterday at a series of No Smoking Day events.

Stockton High Street had theatrical performances and advisors to help shoppers interested in quitting.

Cleveland Fire Service was on hand to advise people on the fire hazards of smoking, and the BBC Bus was parked next to the Town Hall for most of the day, with a qualified Smoking Cessation Advisor on board to offer advice.

Stockton Borough Council said it was keen to promote a smoke-free town.

The Health Improvement Partnership of Stockton Renaissance has already given its backing as it attempts to improve life expectancy throughout the borough.

The council is also looking at ways of encouraging people to stop smoking and has completed a public survey of attitudes to smoking.

* A HEALTH trust helped 623 people to quit from April to December last year. Durham Dales Primary Care Trust said it had beaten its target of helping 504 people to stop smoking last year, praising staff in the service and in GP practices in Wear Valley and Teesdale.

The trust predicts it will hit its three-year target of helping 1,512 people to quit at the end of this year -a year early.