Millions of people will have given up their New Year’s resolutions by today, according to new research, but a Telegraph & Argus poll found people in Bradford might be made of sterner stuff.

The Great Willpower Report, commissioned by the NHS, studied nearly 2,000 people to find out how long they could keep to their resolutions using willpower alone.

But after two weeks only a quarter of those who said they intended to rely solely on willpower managed to keep to their goal compared to a third of those who said they would try using other techniques.

A snapshot survey carried out in Bradford city centre by the T&A yesterday found most of those who had actually made a resolution, had so far kept to it.

Bob Lancaster, 60, and Kim Jones, 51, both of Holme Wood, said they had managed to stick to the diets they had set themselves at the beginning of the year in order to lose weight.

Mr Lancaster said: “One of my resolutions was to get rid of my eye infection and the other was to lose weight. I’ve stopped eating sweets and I have kept it going – I’ve even given a big tin of sweets away.”

Miss Jones added: “My resolution was to try to lose some weight. I’m due to see a dietician next month and I have tried to cut down on chocolates and I have managed to stop eating things like that.”

Meanwhile Alan Dobson, 56, of Heaton, believed he had no need for a New Year’s resolution after managing to quit smoking in July.

He said: “I didn’t make a resolution this year because they only get broken. I gave up smoking last year.”

Jonathan Butler, 22, of Headingley, Leeds, said: “I thought about quitting smoking but it hasn’t happened yet. I don’t want to follow a trend so I will start quitting in February.”

Visiting from Tadcaster, Liam Morris, 20, said: “My resolution was to cut down drinking. So far I have had a cheeky pint, but other than that it’s all been good. I hope to stop it for at least five months.”

One of the more unusual resolutions came from Christine Powell, 74, of Greengates, who said: “I did make a resolution this year and it was to win the lottery, but I haven’t won it yet.”

The Great Willpower Report showed more than half of respondents quit less than a week after revealing their best intentions.

Professor Christine Horrocks, head of the psychology department at the University of Bradford, said people were more likely to change their behaviour when using more than just willpower.

She said: “Changes to your lifestyle are difficult to make because it’s not just about your willpower. If your resolution is to reduce your alcoholic intake but your friends and social relationships are all the same then it’s going to be very difficult to do.”