The Chief Medical Officer added: "Life is precious and Stoptober is all about supporting and encouraging each other to quit - potentially adding years to your life.

Stoptober is created and funded in England by Public Health England, an executive agency of the Department of Health. Launched by Public Health England, the challenge to the eight million smokers in England and Wales begins on October.

Research shows that people who quit the habit for Stoptober and manage to stay off tobacco could gain an extra week of life for every 28 days they are smoke free.

The NHS said that last year more than 160,000 people managed to stop smoking for the month of October with the Stoptober campaign