PLANNING to start 2006 without a cigarette in your hand?

Now's the time to give up - and we're on hand to help.

We want six Examiner readers to take part in our New Year anti-smoking drive. And we have experts lined up to help you with free treatment that would normally run into hundreds of pounds.

The Examiner has teamed up with a hypnotherapist, an acupuncturist, a reflexologist, a meditation teacher, a therapist who specialises in several disciplines plus counselling, and an NHS expert.

We want you to write in and tell us about your smoking, and why you want to give up.

And if we single you out, we'll assign you to a therapist of your choice and follow your progress for the first few weeks of 2006.

Examiner editor Roy Wright said: "Health experts are always telling us that giving up smoking is the single biggest step you can make towards better health.

"And with legislation about where you can and can't light up tightening all the time, the outlook has never been more grim for smokers.

"Our challenge will start around New Year and continue into February.

"We know stopping successfully is a much longer process - but we should see our participants make a good start."

Roy continued: "We hope everyone from smokers who want to stop, to ex-smokers who packed in their habit years ago, will find our series an interesting read."

Would-be participants need to be prepared for their photos and personal details to appear in the Examiner.

Write to us, telling us how long you've been a smoker, how and why you got into smoking, whether you've tried to stop before, how many cigarettes you smoke a day, and how you feel about your habit now.

Roy said: "We're looking for people who really want to stop for themselves, not because it's getting too expensive, or because their partner keeps nagging them."

Tell us, too, about any health problems you have - these could affect the treatment you are able to receive.

Don't forget to tell us your full name, age, address, telephone numbers, plus family details and occupation. Then, choose a first and second-choice therapist you would like to be assigned to.

Write to Jenny Parkin at the Examiner, PO Box A26, Queen Street South, Huddersfield, HD1 2TD, by a week today, or email jenny.parkin@examiner.co.uk