YOUR report Free Umbrellas for Smokers contains significant inaccuracies. Your figure of 4,000 umbrellas across Bury is 3,000 out.

The figure is 1,000.

You repeat the wrong 4,000 figure in the sub headline that inaccurately claims the only purpose of the umbrellas is to keep workers dry when they light up outside'. The letter to businesses makes it clear that the primary purpose of the umbrellas is to advertise the Stop Smoking Service.

I have been working with Smoke Free Bury on a number of projects designed to encourage smokers to take advantage of the ban and quit smoking.

We know from research that many residents do not know how to contact the Stop Smoking Service, so the umbrellas were designed to highlight the Bury Stop Smoking Quit Number 0845 223 9001. In this way we will have direct contact with smokers across Bury.

This is a project promoted by Smoke Free Greater Manchester and involves no cost to Bury Primary Care Trust or Bury Council.

I will be asking major businesses/ bars/restaurants across the borough to make a contribution to the costs of the project.

I am confident that this pilot project will be successful in Bury and I may roll it out in other parts of Greater Manchester.

The average cost of treatment of a patient with serious smoking related diseases is £400,000 so it is in all our interests to encourage people to quit.

Bury Primary Care Trust and Bury Council have done a fantastic job in their preparations for the ban and their work in supporting smokers to quit. Their great achievement is that young people in Bury will grow up in a smoke free world.

PAT KARNEY NHS Director of Smoke Free Greater Manchester