SMOKERS across Brighton and Hove are signing up to a free course specially designed to help them kick the habit.

Smoke Free Me has been created by psychologists and commissioned by health bosses to try to cut the number of people continuing to light up.

The scheme uses texts and email to send people messages of support, tips to distract them and ideas of things to do.

The messages, which are tailored to suit the individual, are designed to smash habits, crush cravings and embrace new smoke-free behaviours.

Argus media sales executive Jordan Taylor, who has smoked for 15 years, has signed up to the programme and is now in his second week of his quit day of March 30.

He said: “My quit day did not go to plan and within a couple of hours I was tempted to have a cigarette.

“Luckily, this programme had anticipated that hurdle and I was given a number to text ‘help’ to when the craving started.

“I had a text back almost immediately asking me to tap my earlobes with my index finger 90 times!

“I was obviously hesitant that this would work but after an hour or so I realised that I had completely forgot about having a cigarette so it was obviously effective.

“The next few days were really hard but my ‘to do’ tasks gave me a good sense of structure and I was able to delay any further craving episodes with the index finger trick stated previously.

“I was instructed to focus on the massive improvements you enjoy when you quit smoking.

“These include noticing the big difference in breathing, which hinders most exercising, and also to concentrate on smelling flowers and fruit as apparently your sense of smell comes back twofold after only a few days without nicotine.

“The last couple of days, the programme has told me not to moan – even if about the weather – and instead to focus on positive thoughts as well as only taking part in mood-lifting tasks such as listening to music and going for a walk.

“I must admit, it is far from easy, but I have noticed the task and overall supports from the ‘Do Something Different’ campaign.

“I am definitely confident about succeeding in the long term although it has now been well over a week since my last cigarette which is a massive achievement so in a sense it has already worked.”

For more information, visit www.SmokeFreeMe.co.uk