AFTER more than 30 years of smoking and many abortive efforts to give up, Pewsey osteopath Martin Preston says he has finally kicked the habit thanks to the help of hypnotherapist Steve Hurst.

The father-of-two admits he did not have the discipline to give up smoking on his own.

Mr Preston is a qualified personal trainer, and his latest clients include the Red Devils Army parachute stunt team, based at Netheravon.

The osteopath said he was embarrassed with his lack of willpower, especially as he had to work with people who had gone to him with problems of their own and he was supposed to be making them healthier.

Mr Preston, who opened his surgery in the High Street in Pewsey just over six years ago, has smoked since he was about 15.

He admits that after a stressful year he was smoking up to 30 a day.

But he said he had become increasingly concerned that people looking to him for help with their fitness training might see him walking down the road with a cigarette in his mouth or, during consultations, detect the smell of tobacco on his clothes.

His two sons tried to encourage him to give up and he said he made several attempts including one 18-month lay-off which ended when he lit a cigarette on the eve of the new Millennium.

He said: "I tried every method I could think of to give it up permanently but none of them worked."

Then recently Mr Hurst joined the practice as a hypnotherapist.

One of the problem areas he specialises in is smoking, together with conquering phobias, helping people to lose weight, controlling anxieties and restoring his patients' self confidence.

One of his first clients was Mr Preston who, after an hour-and-a-half session of deep relaxation, says he has been able to give up smoking without any of the usual pangs involved.

Mr Preston said: "With Steve's help I have managed to become the non smoker that I always wanted to be."

Mr Hurst said: "I am glad I have been able to help Martin. Some people need more than one session but with 95 per cent it works after one session like it has with him."

A delighted Mr Preston said he no longer felt embarrassed at smelling of tobacco when dealing with the clients at his busy clinic.

Mr Preston said his aim was to get the entire population of Pewsey healthier to thank them for the support the village has shown since he opened his practice.

nkerton@newswilts.co.uk