AN estimated four million smokers are now trying to quit in the wake of the ban introduced on July 1 including the Echo's Angie Henden and her husband Boyd.

Although they've both tried to kick the habit in the past, so far they've failed to stub it out.

We asked them to try two new treatments to help their north Dorset home become a smoke-free zone CASE STUDY ONE: Boyd, 44, had his first cigarette when he was just 13 and was smoking around 40 a day.

He agreed to try Bioresonance Therapy at the Willow Cottage Clinic in Richmond Park Road, Bournemouth (visit smokefree4ever.com).

According to the practitioner Adam Hardyman it works by eliminating the electro-magnetic charge of the nicotine in your body but not the psychological or emotional issues related to addictive behaviours.

There are no side effects and it claims to have a 70 per cent success rate. It costs £295 for an hour's treatment (the equivalent of a month's cigarettes for Boyd). Those who don't succeed the first time are allowed a free follow-up session. Each treatment is tailored to suit the individual's level of addiction.

All sounds good in theory but would it work for Boyd?

Boyd's story: "Prior to the treatment I was told I had to mentally prepare myself by believing this will be the last day I smoke forever - so I smoked 15 fags!

"I was also told not to consume any tea, coffee, chocolate or alcohol and to drink at least two litres of water two days prior to the treatment.

"On the day itself I was allowed to bring one cigarette with me. I was then asked to smoke it and blow into a special cup which was hooked up to the machine to tell it what tobacco it was looking for in my system.

"I was asked some medical questions and various tests were taken to measure the amount of nicotine in my body.

"I then sit in a normal looking chair on a pad with an electric band around my head and ball in each hand and told to relax - I felt as though I was taking part in Dr Frankenstein's experiment!

"Forty-five minutes later I felt quite light headed and could really smell the smoke on myself but I had no cravings, which was weird.

"I was then given a metal disc which is taped to your body. It's a memory of what the machine has done to you and should be attached for three weeks but if fell off after a few days!

"They also give you a CD which contains subliminal messages to help keep you off the cigarettes. In the past when I've tried to give up I've used nicotine patches and gums - I'd get through packets of the stuff - but this time I really felt as though I was nicotine free and I wanted to stay that way.

"It's no miracle cure and it would have been easy to have given in during that first week but I think it gave me the kick-start I needed. I also think it was the thought of the money that really made the difference - £4,000 a year literally going up in smoke.

"You still need a lot of determination and will power to succeed - but it's getting easier all the time. It's been nearly six weeks now and I'm now proud to call myself a non-smoker."

CASE STUDY TWO Angie who works as the Echo editor's PA, had her first cigarette was she was just nine and was smoking around ten a day.

Although she doesn't have a cigarette at work she always has her first one in the car on the way home from work and will then smoke three in about 45 minutes.

She agreed to try smoking cessation hypnotherapy (visit dolphinhypnotheraoy.co.uk) at The Doctor's Surgery at Merley Lane in Wimborne which costs £150.

Angie's story: "The hypnotherapist Trefor Roberts put me at ease straight away.

He explained what was involved and asked questions about how long I had been smoking and why I wanted to give up.

"This part of the session was very informal and funny and probably took about 30 to 45 minutes.

"His manner was very soothing but I kept thinking that if I look at him I might just go under like on the Paul McKenna shows but it's not like that at all.

"He explained that the hypnosis method was helped by cognitive behavioural therapy which focuses on how you think about yourself, the world and other people.

"A good example he gave was when driving home in the car and arriving only to realise that you don't remember passing certain landmarks. It's like being in a trance - not totally out of it but sort of drifting.

"The chair was reclined and I was worried in case I couldn't relax. I'd heard some people can't be hypnotised and hoped I wasn't one of them!

"I lay there while soft music played in the background and I listened to his voice. All the while hoping I would drop off at any minute.

"All I could hear was the sound of his soothing voice rising and falling but whatever he was saying couldn't have been important because I can't remember what he said!

"I kept thinking I wish the ladies outside the room would stop talking because I could hear them and they were distracting me!

"Then I had that feeling you have when you're just about to drop off to sleep until I heard Trefor telling me to wake up and I thought but I haven't even gone off yet.

"I opened my eyes and he asked me if my throat was dry which it was and my first reaction was that I'd been snoring! When he asked how long I thought I'd been lying there, I said about 15 minutes but it had actually been 45 minutes - I couldn't believe it.

"My first test was driving home in my car. I kept thinking I should be smoking now but I didn't want one. I didn't crave one at all. It's now been over five weeks and I still haven't had one. I really feel it was a habit which I have changed and hopefully will never go back to again."