Hundreds of children in Lincolnshire have tried to get help to quit smoking in less than a year, according to new figures.

The Phoenix Stop Smoking Service has been approached by nearly 400 youngsters aged under 16 since April last year.

And service manager Gary Burroughs believes this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to children smoking in the county.

"This is a good start, but we need a lot more young people to come in and choose to quit smoking," he said.

"Of those 400, only about a quarter of them actually quit."

Phoenix has joined forces with the Lincolnshire County Council-led Smokefree Lincs Alliance to try and give children advice about the hazards of lighting up.

"The important thing is to stop young people from starting smoking in the first place," said Mr Burroughs.

The young persons' smoking service was set up in late 2009, but before that the only help Phoenix could give was to try and change children's behaviour.

Mr Burroughs said: "Now we can offer nicotine patches as well as guidance to under 16s."

Together with Phoenix, the Smokefree Lincs Alliance will develop a youth service that is tailored to the specific needs of young people.

Ros Watson, Smokefree Lincs co-ordinator, said that young people may not even consider themselves as smokers and therefore do not feel like they need help quitting.

She said: "If they are only smoking one or two a week then they are less likely to recognise that they are becoming addicted to the nicotine."