Bingo hall appoints ‘mentor’ to help staff and players to give up smoking

Meet Smoke-buster Maureen Smith - a York bingo worker who is giving up smoking and is also set to help others kick the habit.

Maureen, who works at Mecca Bingo in Fishergate, wants to quit before the ban on smoking in public places comes in on July 1.

But she revealed today that she also wants to offer support to colleagues and customers who also want to give it up.

Maureen, who has smoked 20 cigarettes a day for the last 23 years, was nominated by fellow co-workers as a "Smoke Buster", and says she is delighted by her new role.

"I want to quit because of the smoking ban and with the money I save I will go on holiday," she said.

A Mecca spokeswoman said that as approximately 50 per cent of bingo players nationwide smoked, Maureen would face quite a challenge if everyone at the York club became involved.

To spur Maureen on in quitting and give her an incentive, colleagues and customers will be donating money to the NSPCC in recognition of her efforts.

The spokeswoman said NiQuitin, which provides a range of nicotine replacement products to help people quit smoking, was also helping Maureen, by giving her and other Mecca Smoke Busters a tailored personal plan to help them kick the habit.

Tim Stobart, general manager at Mecca Bingo York, said he was proud to be hosting the quit smoking programme, saying: "We're thrilled Maureen has decided to become our Smoke Buster and she will be able to offer support to others who choose to do the same.

"We know it's hard to quit smoking at the best of times but now our Smoke Buster can be a pillar of support for those wanting to quit when the national ban comes into place this July."

Sandra Romanic, of NiQuitin, said: "With the Smoke-Free Legislation coming into place on July 1, there has never been a better time to stop."