People are being encouraged to stub it out as the latest figures show smoking has led to the deaths of nearly 7,400 people in Kent.

According to the latest figures from Public Health England, 16.3% of the county's adults smoke - higher than the national average of 14.9%.

An estimated 7,381 people died in Kent between 2014 and 2016 and tobacco remains the number one killer in England.

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Medway has the second-highest proportion of smokers in the South East, at 17.6%.

It also has the third-highest rate of smoking attributable mortality, with an estimated 1,288 deaths between 2014 and 2016.

However, the number of smokers in the county is dropping rapidly, as almost 5,000 people successfully quit for four weeks or more in Kent and Medway across the same time period.

Kent County Council is now encouraging smokers to take part in the Stoptober campaign.

"We've still got an absolute long way to go to achieve a smoke-free generation", said Andrew Scott-Clark, KCC's director for public health.

"People need support in terms of behaviour change and talking it through.

"They need support from peers and colleagues, alongside pharmaceutical support - for example nicotine replacement therapy.

"We know the combination of talking, and the drugs, give the best possibility of an outcome, which is to stop smoking.

"We’re doing this work the whole year round, and it’s never too early, or too late, for people to give up."

According to Public Health England, Medway has the highest percentage of women who smoke while pregnant in the South East.

More than 600 women were recorded as smokers at the time of delivery between 2016 and 2017 - a staggering 17% of pregnancies.

In Kent 14% of women were recorded as smokers at the time of delivery, still well above the national average of 11%.

There were also more than 3,000 hospital admissions attributed to the effects of cigarettes in Kent and Medway between 2016 and 2017.

Mr Scott-Clark said helping people to stop smoking is cost effective, and can reduce the strain it has on health services.

He added: "Some 16% of the adult population in Kent still continue to smoke, and we’re still seeing rises in smoking-attributable diseases, such as lung cancer, chronic respiratory illness and cardiovascular disease.

"We continue to aim for a Smokefree Kent by encouraging smokers to access the help available to give up cigarettes and lead a healthier life."

To find out more about KCC's Smokefree campaign, and get your free quit plan, visit kent.gov.uk

For more information on services near you, visit kentcht.nhs.uk