The NHS has launched a new campaign urging the 5.3 million smokers in the UK to try and quit this January.

The campaign features former England goalkeeper and former smoker David James and other ex-smokers discussing the influence their parents’ smoking had on them taking up the habit themselves and how being around children was their motivation to quit.

The campaign urges people to quit for their own health and also to help ensure that young people are not being encouraged to start smoking.

Teenagers are more than three times as likely to smoke if their parents, caregivers or friends do.

Former England goalkeeper, David James, said: "I smoked for about 15 years and at the time, it was normal. My mum smoked, my friends smoked, it was around me. It didn’t take long for me to be hooked.

"Looking back, it had a huge impact on my health and performance at the time, I wish I never started.

"My health, my children and my fans were huge motivators for me to quit - I didn’t want younger people to see me smoking and think it was okay."

Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Sir Chris Whitty, said: "Smoking causes a range of diseases that affect people throughout their lives.

"Stopping people becoming addicted to smoking and helping those who have been addicted to quit are 2 of the most important measures we can take to improve health.

"Quitting will improve your health whatever your age and no matter how long you have smoked, it’s never too late to stop."

Image by Hanjörg Scherzer from Pixabay