The Liverpool Echo launched a campaign to help readers give up smoking by featuring a success story from one of its senior staff.

Assistant editor Rob Irvine was one of a number of case studies covered by the paper.

He told how he finally gave up what had become a ten-a-day habit after four years of trying.

He stepped forward for the Stub it Out campaign, which follows the city council’s decision to ban workplace smoking.

Rob told his readers: “It was hard to give up but what people don’t realise is that the addiction is broken after three days – it’s only the habit which remains and that can be broken in just a few weeks.

“I don’t pretend I never smoked and I know that if I had one cigarette, then I would be hooked again.”

Rob, a former Coventry Telegraph, Bristol Evening Post, Bradford T&A and Derby Evening Telegraph man added: “It is possible to stop by taking on day at a time and I am delighted that the Echo is doing its bit to help people out.”

The campaign has included a series of stories and has included a pledge form for readers to fill in as they give up smoking with support from the Echo and its readers.

Topics such as smoking among schoolchildren and couples giving up together have also been tackled.