One-in-four smokers tried to quit on Ash Wednesday

More than one-quarter of Irish smokers attempted to quit the habit on National No Smoking Day last year, according to a survey commission by the Irish Cancer Society and the ASH Ireland lobby group.

However, the survey showed that 43% of those who attempted to quit remained off cigarettes for just 24 hours.

Only 3% of the others were still not smoking six weeks later.

The results of the survey were released to mark National No Smoking Day 2003, which takes place today.