Full of good intentions now the New Year has started, actually managing to give up cigarettes and keeping off them is still a daunting prospect.

Years of lighting up while having a cup of coffee or over drinks with friends makes changing the habits of a lifetime difficult without help.

NHS smoking cessation services across Sussex and the South-East are preparing to help the thousands of smokers planning to quit.

A recent survey revealed that a massive 56 per cent of smokers in the South-East are planning to give up this New Year and more than 83 per cent of adults in the region think smoking is now less socially acceptable than at the start of 2003.

Smoking causes over 16,000 deaths each year in this region alone - making it the UK's leading cause of preventable death.

About seven in ten smokers say they want to quit. Quitting smoking is effective and will reduce the chance of cancer or heart disease.

The NHS across the region will be providing more support than ever before for smokers who want to give up, including advice through the NHS Smoking Helpline on 0800 1690169, smoking cessation workshops, nicotine replacement therapy and individual advice and support.

Figures show 33 per cent more people quit with the help of smoking cessation services during 2003 in the South-East compared with the same period last year. Between April and June 2003, 3,381 smokers in the South-East successfully gave up.

The average success rate throughout the region, 60 per cent, is the second highest in the country, with some areas in the South-East as high as 90 per cent.

A string of hard-hitting Government initiatives in 2003 were aimed at reducing the number of smokers.

These included the tobacco advertising ban, new cigarette pack warnings and a ban on light and mild cigarette branding.

The South-East director of public health, Mike Gill, has unveiled research which shows how quickly kicking the habit can improve a person's health and finances.

For example, a 20-a-day smoker who quit on New Year's Eve will have enough money by Christmas 2004 to buy a top-of-the-range television, stereo and mountain bike or spend next New Year's Eve in the Bahamas.

Dr Gill said: "Seven out of ten smokers want to give up and the NHS is now providing more support than ever.

"The network of smoking cessation services and nicotine-replacement products now in place is excellent and they don't cost a penny.

"Thousands of people across the region gave up last year and, with so many smokers wanting to quit in 2004, I hope many more will use the services."

This day-by-day chart shows the rapid, and long-term, benefits of giving up.

Day 1: Blood pressure and pulse rate return to normal.

Day 2: Nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in the blood reduce by half and oxygen levels return to normal.

Day 3: Carbon monoxide is eliminated from the body. Lungs start to clear out mucus.

Day 4: There is no nicotine left in the body. Ability to taste and smell is greatly improved.

Day 5: Breathing becomes easier. Bronchial tubes begin to relax and energy levels increase.

Month 2: Circulation will be improving.

Month 9: Coughs and breathing problems improve as lung function is increased by up to ten per cent.

Month 12: Risk of a heart attack falls to about half that of a smoker.

Year 10: The risk of lung cancer falls to half that of a smoker.

Year 15: The risk of heart attack falls to the same as someone who has never smoked.

Brighton and Hove has been investigating the dangers of passive smoking in the workplace.

It has been asking pubs, clubs and restaurants in the town if they want to ban smoking in their premises.

The city's council and Primary Care Trust cannot enforce a smoking ban but they can offer advice.