THIS year marked a new start for five Bristol smokers all hoping to give up cigarettes for good.

The challenge, supported by the Evening Post, followed a campaign by the NHS in Bristol to help people stop smoking using social media website Twitter.

Now as the month draws to an end we round up the highs and lows of each of our Twitter Qwitters.

Each of the five smokers was given an iPhone and encouraged to share their feelings, frustration and tips to help others trying to quit. We've followed their progress with updates each day.

For media student Ed Sharp, 20, the temptation to give in was always worse on a night out.

He said: "I found it quite hard to begin with but it has got easier throughout the month. Although I have had a few cigarettes while I've been out drinking it's nothing compared to what I was smoking before.

"The hardest thing is not to smoke when socialising but a lot of my friends, who aren't smokers normally, have a cigarette with a drink.

"Before I was smoking ten a day, now I don't really feel the need. I have noticed I've put on weight though and I eat a lot more than before."

Becky Harris, 21, a student living in Gloucester Road, started a week before our other Qwitters and has managed to last the month without a cigarette.

She found it difficult to deal with stress and felt that at times she had become; "snappy and irritable" without cigarettes.

But she has also noticed how much cigarette smoke smells and that her health had improved.

She said: "I nagged about smelling of cigarette last night. Yuk, you truly cannot notice when you're a smoker. I do feel really really healthy, even just walking I have noticed a difference. I also feel so much happier."

Student Alex Cook, 25, has also been pleased with his quitting efforts. He started using a prescription pill called Champix to help his cravings but can now manage without.

He said: "Think I can taste and smell things more than before, although it may be the placebo effect."

He added that he enjoyed telling people he was a non-smoker and had found the month hard work but rewarding.

He said: "I'm noticing the savings on not buying cigarettes already. Should be able to save towards a nice holiday by the summer."

Quitter Chris Miller, 28, has found the challenge difficult but his goal had always been to get smoke-free for his wedding.

His fiancee doesn't smoke, and he wants to give her one extra wedding present by being a non-smoking husband.

As a nursing assistant he found the challenge hardest when at work on a busy shift.

He said: "Cravings much better now, just occasional ones when stressed."

He added that he had succumbed to one crafty cigarette after a busy shift at work but didn't enjoy it. Overall he said his colleagues had been really supportive of his efforts.

For Nathan Jones, 38, it was nicotine patches that helped him through the month.

He said: "It's been difficult adjusting to the patches' side effects. They work, as I've broken the smoking habit, but I think the hard work of defeating the nicotine addiction still lies ahead.

" Throughout, my friends and family have all provided excellent support, but I don't think I'd have got this far without the TwitterQwitter campaign.

Samantha Turner, NHS Bristol's social media expert said she was pleased with the Qwitters efforts.

She said: "We think the Qwitters have done very well over the last few weeks as we recognise that giving up the habit of smoking is a very difficult thing to achieve.

"The campaign has been great at allowing us to understand the struggles the Qwitters have been facing and has enabled our smoke- free Bristol advisers to offer personal advice and tips to help them along the way."

Each Qwitter that has made it through four weeks without a cigarette will win gym membership with Everyone Active.

Ms Turner said those Qwitters who had not yet managed four smoke-free weeks will continue to be supported until they make the milestone, at which point they will also receive the gym membership.