October marks the month of Stoptober, four weeks dedicated to stubbing out your cigarette habit for good.

The initiative is a great way for smokers to ditch the cigarettes, alongside thousands of others across the county.

According to the NHS, if you can give it up for 28 days, then you're five times more likely kick the habit for good.

We've compiled some helpful tips and tricks to help you along your journey.

Make a promise and set a date

According to the NHS the first thing you should do is make a promise to yourself, set a date and stick to it. With it being Stoptober you're half way through with this step, as your date is already set.

Whenever you find yourself seconds away from caving in, the NHS advises you say to yourself, "I will not have even a single drag" and stick with this until the craving passes. Cravings usually last for around 5 minutes.

Apps

Downloading an app which gives you step-by-step support, is the perfect way to success. You can download them from iTunes and Google Play.

The Smoke Free app from iTunes lets you log your cravings and get tips on how to deal with them. You can also see how long you have been smoke free and the amount of cigarettes you've not smoked since quitting.

The weQuit app from NiQuitin gives you a personalised goal-based plan. You can earn badges and quit points which you can redeem for rewards such as NiQuitin product coupons.

Consider your diet

If your favourite cigarette of the day is the one just after a meal then consider changing what you're eating. According to the NHS, a US study revealed that some foods, including meat, make cigarettes more satisfying. Other foods, like cheese and fruit and veg make cigarettes taste terrible.

With this in mind, if your diet includes a lot of meat, then think about introducing more veg into your meals.

The same study looked at drinks and found that fizzy drinks, alcohol, cola, tea and coffee all make cigarettes taste better. Instead swap these for water and juice.

Patches

Patches have been on the market for years and are easily accessible - you can buy them from your local pharmacy for around £11. You get seven in each pack, which will last you the entire week.

The invisible patches help you to overcome the urge to smoke by giving you some of the nicotine you receive from a cigarette - they eliminate the harmful tar, hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide.

Nicorette has three types of patches to choose from depending on how many cigarettes you smoke a day.

Patches, lozenges, microtabs, inhalators and nasal sprays are all available from the NHS with a prescription.

Make a list

Make a list of all the reasons you want to quit and stick it somewhere in your home, it could be on your fridge or on your mirror. Keeping a daily reminder of all the cons and downsides of the habit will keep you motivated - especially when you need some support, according to the NHS.

Read the list to yourself when you feel like giving up. You could even make the list in your notes app on your phone, that way it will be with you wherever you go.

Chewing gum

Like patches, gum is another stop smoking aid and works quickly to relieve those annoying cravings you get throughout the day. When you're having withdrawal symptoms reach for a packet of nicotine gum.

There are plenty on the market to choose from including Nicorette, NiQuitin, Nicotinell and Xylitol. Choose from mint, spearmint and fruit sugar ranges.

The gum is available from the NHS with a prescription.

Get support

You can get free one-to-one support from the NHS during Stoptober, which is available from your local stop smoking service. The support is delivered by professionals and is designed to help give advice as well as encouragement.

If you don't want to go to one-on-one meetings you can subscribe to Stoptober's daily support email service. Here, subscribers receive emails with tips and tricks, encouragement and motivation to help keep them going.

For more advice on quitting click here.

Exercise

It might sound odd but exercise can help ease nicotine withdrawal when you first quit. If you smoke to alleviate stress, getting active is a great replacement because it's also a great reliever for pent up worries and frustration. If you're new to exercising try and allocate some time each day to a small activity and build up your stamina. Joining classes at your local gym or community centre can make it more fun and sociable.

The NHS quit smoking website states that a review of scientific study proved exercise – even a five-minute walk or stretch – cuts cravings and may help your brain produce anti-craving chemicals.