Smokers who want to quit their habit but can't always find the time to attend a support group are being offered an alternative way to get help.

From today people can attend rolling' evening sessions every Wednesday in Shipley for help and support to quit smoking.

Instead of having to join a group right from the start, the free new sessions will allow people to join at any time and get on-going support until they feel confident to leave the group.

The new group, run by the NHS stop smoking service, part of Bradford and Airedale Teaching PCT, will run two sessions at Shipley's Kirkgate Community Centre on Wednesdays for new quitters from 5pm to 6pm and for on-going support from 6pm to 7pm.

Lorraine Bradbury, senior health promotion specialist, said: "Using the local stop smoking service gives people a much better chance of quitting than if they try to do it on their own, and being able to join a group at any time should make it easier for some of them to get NHS help.

"We'll have stop smoking advisors on hand to chat to people, issue prescriptions for nicotine replacement therapy and give them the encouragement and support they need to quit. People are four times more likely to succeed in giving up smoking with professional help, so it really is worth giving it a try."

Anyone who wants to quit will need to attend up to seven sessions to help them achieve their goal.

For more information about the sessions or about other help available, call the stop smoking service on (01274) 363559.