SMOKERS across Ryedale are being encouraged to take up the Stoptober campaign, to help them quit smoking.

The national campaign is being backed by a hypnotherapist who is offering two Gazette and Herald readers free stop smoking sessions to help them kick the habit for good.

As an ex-smoker herself, Rachael Armstrong, owner of Progress Through Hypnosis, said that she knows how difficult it can be to stop.

"I stopped about five years ago which is one of the reasons I want others to enjoy the benefits becoming smoke-free brings," she said.

"Hypnosis is effective because it works to retrain your unconscious mind to change the thought process associated with cigarettes. It can therefore help you to become smoke free by quickly establishing new ways of doing things without cigarettes, making being a non-smoker feel natural and without the cravings."

The stop smoking hypnotherapy session typically lasts two hours and can be held either at the person’s home or via Skype.

To find out more and to apply for the free session email Rachael at rachael@progressthroughhypnosis.co.uk telling her in 100 words of less why you want to stop smoking.