Mixed views on cigs spell

Shirley Tattersall and Neil Kenyon have not lit up for more than a week after they were put under the spell by hypnotherapist Lee Carlin.

The pair joined nine other hopefuls at the Inn on the Wharf pub, Burnley, last week as they were sent into deep relaxation.

Shirley, 33, of Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors, smoked up to 15 cigarettes a day and said she wanted to quit to become healthier.

Today she was surprised at the result but said it had taken a lot of hard work and determination: "I was having a few tantrums over the weekend but I didn't succumb to temptation.

"It's getting a bit easier though. I've been going to the gym and keeping myself occupied. Hopefully this time I'll be able to give up forever."

Neil, of Park Road, Great Harwood, had been smoking 20 cigarettes a day for 11 years and was hopeful he could give up once and for all.

He said: "I think I've cracked it now so fingers crossed this will be it. It's been different to what I thought it would have been like. I thought hypnotherapy would have made giving up easier and taken away the side effects but it hasn't and I've still been climbing the wall.

"It's given me more confidence in that I'm in control in saying whether I want a cigarette or not."

But things were not so good for Ian Howarth and Julie McGinty, who both admitted to lighting up again.

Ian, 41, of West Wood Street, Accrington, said: "I smoked straight away about an hour and a half after the session -- which is probably the longest I've given up for a long time."

Julie, 32, of WestWood Road, Burnley, said she was disappointed it hadn't worked but said she would go back for a free one-to-one session and try again.

She said: "I'm not very impressed at all. I'll probably end up going back on the puffer again now."

Lee, who claimed a success rate of 93 per cent before the session, said: "I would have expected a higher success rate than that but they are perfectly welcome to contact me if they are struggling."