SMOKERS are being offered help to kick the habit at two Stop Smoking clinics.

They take place every Wednesday at the Sure Start centre, in Durham Road, Ushaw Moor, Durham City.

From 12.30pm to 2pm, a clinic led by nurse Jennifer Peel is open to any smoker wanting to kick the habit.

A second clinic, led by midwife Deborah Wright, takes place from 11am to 1pm, aimed at pregnant women and their partners.

Ms Wright said: "We have set up these clinics so that we can make it easier for pregnant women and their partners, or families, to see a pregnancy stop-smoking specialist as soon as possible in their pregnancy.

"There is a lot of evidence to suggest that giving up smoking in pregnancy has enormous benefits for both mother and baby.

"Statistics show that infant mortality - the death of the baby, either at birth or through a miscarriage - is 50 per cent higher when the mother smokes."

She added: "The good news is that if you stop smoking by the fourth month of pregnancy, you can significantly reduce these dangers.

"Carbon monoxide, in particular, is eliminated from the body within 24 hours of stopping smoking, so the benefits to mother and baby are immediate. This is extremely important, as carbon monoxide cuts down on the amount of oxygen reaching the baby."

For details, ring the Sure Start centre on 0191-373 4844.