CHESHIRE East is considering paying people hundreds of pounds to quit smoking.
According to the council, approximately 10.5 per cent of people in the borough and 10.8 per cent of pregnant women smoke tobacco.
The number of people stubbing out the habit is declining so the authority is now considering paying them to quit.
A report due to be considered at Monday's meeting of the adults and health committee states: "There is robust evidence that financial incentives increase smoking quit rates. Evidence shows that people are around 50 per cent more likely to quit with incentives; furthermore, in pregnant women specifically, the likelihood of quitting is doubled."
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