AS THE day draws ever nearer when it will be illegal to light up in enclosed public places, health experts are urging more and more people to give up smoking.

While the main advantages of kicking the habit will be for the smoker themselves, there are undoubtedly others who will benefit - including the county's children.

"Some 45 per cent of smokers continue to smoke in cars with children and 28 per cent in the same room," said Dorset's public health director David Phillips.

"This increases the risks of a variety of illnesses for children like pneumonia and asthma. It speaks to the addictive nature of smoking, but also highlights that children have no voice or choice in this."

Dr Phillips described the upcoming legislation - which makes smoking in enclosed public places, including pubs and restaurants, illegal - as vital to making progress on this.

"Few people actually realise the implications of this," he said. "From July 1 almost all enclosed public places will be smoke-free and in October the legal age to purchase cigarettes increases to 18."

Dr Phillips said approximately one in five male and one in nine female deaths was smoking-related.

Each cigarette takes approximately five minutes off your life - if you smoke 20 cigarettes a day you lost a month every year.

Non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke have their risk of lung cancer and heart disease increased by 25 per cent.

But the most important factor was the danger to children, he added.

"They are most at risk and are the least able to do anything about it."

In Dorset, approximately 18 per cent of people smoke, but this figure may be much less in some areas and higher in others.

For example, more than 25 per cent of the poorest young adults in Weymouth and Portland are smokers.

In Dorset, 5,685 quitters have gone through Dorset Primary Care Trust's SmokeStop service, with 200 tutors being trained. Around 70 per cent of people who use the service have successfully quit at four weeks.

Dr Phillips said the trust would now be focusing on where it could gain maximum impact for its investment. In a bid to stub out smoking, Dorset PCT will: * get different groups involved * change the way it delivers services * focus on specific groups.

Dr Phillips said: "We have done well and we have some excellent opportunities to go further. We can get many more people to quit not only for their own good, but for that of their unborn child, their children and their family and friends.

"I see this as a collective, community effort and not about individual smokers."