A FAMILY vaping business that claims to have helped hundreds of people to quit smoking will remain open throughout lockdown.

Brewtique in High Street, Winsford, and Vapeoroist in Wheelock Street, Middlewich, can continue to trade because both shops have alcohol licences and are classed as off licences.

The Vapeorist shop at Winsford Cross which does not have a licence has closed.

Owner Richard Jaques has around 200 customers a week and is now developing new ideas to turn the over 18 stores into health and wellbeing shops.

"We are hoping to introduce 30 different types of vitamins which is a new thing for us," said Richard, who opened the Middlewich outlet seven years ago and started the Winsford business from a kiosk five years ago.

"We are hoping to expand and develop into a health and wellbeing shop."

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Brewtique, which stocks a range of local craft beers, opened a year ago.

Vaping expert Richard wants to give people the chance to improve their health.

"The best thing is to do nothing, don't smoke, vape or put anything in your lungs," said Richard, who runs the business with son Harry and a team of 12 staff, including Ryan Sudlow from Wharton.

"But if you need something, vape because it is better for you. There are eight carcinogenic ingredients in cigarettes, none of that stuff is in vaping liquid.

"Smokers say they see a change within a week in the quality of their breathing. Currently there is no defined illness associated with vaping compared to the plethora of things people can die from by smoking cigarettes, notably lung cancer."

Many customers have gradually weaned themselves off nicotine and continue to vape, he said, whilst others have quit both smoking and vaping.

"The UK is leading the world in terms of its vaping policy," said Richard. "European legislation controls it and it is tightly regulated."