I joined Gloucestershire NHS staff to do battle as part of national No Smoking Day on Wednesday 12th March. As well as promoting the Quit Shop on Southgate Street and reminding shoppers that a team of stop smoking advisers were on hand to offer free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) for people wanting to quit, I also had a bit of a tussle with a larger-than-life cigarette.

This year’s No Smoking Day campaign, run by the British Heart Foundation, had a V for Victory theme aimed at helping smokers on the road to success, providing information, support and encouragement to put together a personal battle plan.