The number of smokers across Oxfordshire expected to quit their habit tonight would leave Oxford's Kassam Stadium overflowing.

According to a study by leading 'tobacco control' expert Professor Robert West, 16,800 people in the county will try to stub out their last cigarette at midnight.

Smoking cessation workers at Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust said they were ready and waiting for the influx of quitters, which could fill the 12,500 capacity at Oxford United's home ground - plus a fourth stand should it be built.

Smoking cessation coordinator Laura Wardak said: "We have an excellent network of trained advisors in every health centre in the county and we also have them in places like youth centres and hospitals - about 700 in total.

"Eight months ago we were already preparing for an influx of quitters that we knew the new no-smoking legislation would bring with it. So we are ready."

Although only 1,901 smokers in Oxfordshire asked the NHS to help them give up between January and March last year, it is thought one in eight of all smokers made an attempt to quit last January 1.