Battersea power station has been smokeless for 16 years - and on Wednesday night it was press-ganged into encouraging smokers to follow its lead.

Nicorette, the manufacturers of nicotine patches, projected a message urging smokers to quit for the new millennium onto the front of the famous Thameside landmark.

The advert contained telephone numbers that smokers who want to quit the habit over the festive season can ring for advice.

A recent survey by the pharmaceutical company SmithKline Beecham found that nearly 1.5m in the UK plan to give up smoking in the New Year - the most ever.

However, most people who attempt to quit end up failing.

Battersea power station, a Grade 2 listed building, became smoke-free in 1983 after providing London with electricity for 50 years.

The quit smoking advice line number is 0800 2448387.