The indoor smoking ban has been credited with convincing a quarter more smokers to kick the habit.

The latest figures from the NHS show 165,000 quit with the help of their Stop Smoking Service between April and September last year - an increase of 28 per cent since the introduction of the ban in July.

The latest Department of Health campaign - Getting Off Cigarettes - launched on Boxing Day has already received approaches from 73,000 smokers.

Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said the figures were great news.

"It's not easy to overcome a nicotine addiction so it's clear that the NHS Stop Smoking Service is providing a vital service," she said.

"And these figures are confirmation that the £56million we invested into the service last year was money well spent.

"This follows the news last week that a smaller proportion of adults now smoke - 22 per cent down from 24 per cent."

The Government has set a target to reduce the number of people smoking in England to 21 percent of the population by 2010.

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