Dr Christian Jessen, of Channel 4's Embarrassing Bodies, is encouraging smokers to take the VApril challenge next month to help them quit the habit. The awareness campaign is being organised by the UK Vaping Industry Association.

A three-step VApril challenge is being offered in cities throughout the UK to help smokers quit using vaping.

The campaign will encourage smokers to take a vaping masterclass held at specialist retail stores for smokers, to learn about the different products and nicotine strengths that are best suited to a successful quit.

As part of the initiative, the UKVIA has published a guide 'Vaping to break the Smoking Habit' that people can sign up to receive.

Participants in the challenge are also encouraged to share their experience of quitting on social media at facebook.com/VAprilMonth.

Public Health England’s recent review into vaping suggested that it was 95 per cent less harmful than smoking and a successful way to quit.

John Dunne, of the UKVIA, said: “This will be the largest campaign ever run by the vaping industry and reflects how far the sector has come in a relatively short period of time. The challenge for the industry, government and the public health community is to get across the message that e-cigarettes are a very small risk compared to smoking and that nearly three million smokers are now vaping, with a significant number having switched over altogether. VApril aims to be the starting point for more smokers to quit their habit.”

Dr Christian Jessen commented: “I am always amazed and disappointed to hear that we still have seven million smokers in this country and, according to PHE, around 40 per cent of them have never tried vaping. Furthermore, more than half of the population don’t realise that vaping is a fraction of the risk of smoking."