COLD turkey might well have tasted great on Boxing Day, but when it comes to giving up smoking there are far better recipes for success.

Smokers in Carmarthenshire who want to quit as a New Years’ Resolution are being urged to get in touch with Stop Smoking Wales, the NHS’s free stop smoking service, to line up a programme of free NHS support to help them kick the habit in January.

New statistics show that smokers who quit using the free support on offer from the service are four times more likely to stay smoke-free for at least 12 months as those who go it alone.

Stop Smoking Wales sessions are held at venues across Carmarthenshire including Margaret Street Pharmacy in Ammanford and Llandeilo Surgery.

Eiddan Harries, Stop Smoking Advisor for Carmarthenshire, said: “If you’re planning on giving up cigarettes as your New Years’ Resolution, you certainly won’t be alone.

“Around 350,000 of us in Wales will set the goal of improving some aspect of our health at the start of 2016, and stopping smoking is one of the most targeted aspects.

“But waking up on New Year’s Day with the resolution of packing the fags in might not be the best way - a survey last year showed that the average resolution lasted just 24 days.

“Quitting smoking is one of the hardest things you can do – but the good news for smokers in Carmarthenshire is that they don’t have to go it alone.”

People who quit smoking will notice their health improving in a short period of time, with the breathing of someone who quit on New Year’s Days becoming easier as soon as January 3, blood circulation improving by January 14 and by next Christmas, their risk of heart attack falling to half that of a smoker; resulting in a healthier, more energised year ahead.

The health benefits aren’t the only bit of Christmas cheer for smokers planning to quit - within a year the average smoker would have an extra £1,752 to spend on presents for friends and family, a big incentive for their loved ones to pass on the Stop Smoking Wales telephone and website details.

Stop Smoking Wales supports quitters in Wales, with hints, tips, coping strategies and access to the most suitable and free nicotine replacement therapies, through face to face sessions, telephone services and an innovative online tool.

People who are interested in receiving free effective help from Stop Smoking Wales, to make their 2016 New Years’ Resolution a reality should visit the website or call 0800 085 2219.