Characters from children’s book Alice in Wonderland will be encouraging people to stop smoking in Truro as part of the national No Smoking Day this Wednesday.

The free event has been organised by NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly to help more smokers to quit.

NHS Stop Smoking Service advisors will be on hand to talk about their work, in a mobile unit at Lemon Quay from 10am until 3pm.

The advisors will be dressed up as characters from Alice in Wonderland, including the Mad Hatter and the Cheshire Cat, and there will be the chance for people to enter competitions and join in with some fun activities. Truro firefighters will also be there to give advice about home safety.

Gareth Walsh, Stop Smoking development worker, said: "The sooner a smoker can quit the better and it is never too late to stop. Some of the health benefits of stopping are very quick; within 20 minutes after quitting, blood pressure and pulse return to normal, and within 24 hours harmful carbon monoxide from smoking leaves the body.

“When someone decides to stop smoking, they need to keep themselves busy as distractions help you to manage the cravings, which will soon pass and people can break the habit.”