Smokers in Bradford are being given extra help to have a healthier new year.

Support groups start across the district in January in a bid to help people kick the killer habit.

Last year the groups - run by Bradford District Stop Smoking Service - helped people who had vowed to quit as one of their New Year's Resolutions.

This year stop smoking advisors are hoping even more will give up.

Statistics show people who are supported to give up can double their success rate, as do those who use Nicotine Replacement Therapy such as patches, gum, or lozenges.

Five free groups will be set up, with each starting in the first week of January and running for between six and eight weeks.

The hour-long meetings are run by stop smoking advisors and former smokers will also be there to pass on tips for quitting.

Advisor Jacqui Yates said: "People will be amongst those quitting at the same time as them, which is useful.

"New year is a busy time because obviously people look back and the past year and think about what they want to achieve - giving up is traditionally one of the new year's resolutions, but any time is a good time to stop."

She said people attending the groups would be given information about how smoking affected their health and how to give up.

This can involve using Nicotine Replacement Therapy to cut the cravings and prescription letters to GPs can be given for some of the products.

"We also talk about managing stress, exercise and coping strategies and encourage people to support each other," Mrs Yates said.

In the past year more than 5,000 people were helped by the service and Mrs Yates said they were keen to set up more groups in the future.

From early January, afternoon groups will be held in Bradford City Centre and Holme Wood, Bradford. Evening groups will be in Woodside, Bradford, Shipley and Keighley

For more information, call (01274) 363559.