Hearts call to kick cigs

A HEARTS legend has persuaded fans of the Tynecastle club to stop smoking in an NHS-backed initiative.

Former defender Jimmy Sandison attended a recent fixture with St Mirren in a bid to talk to supporters who wanted to kick the habit but could not.

The NHS Lothian Tynecastle Stop Smoking Club wants to attract supporters to weekly classes to help them cease.

It is not the first time the health board has enlisted a player to help to send health messages to the community.

In 2009, Angolan winger Jose Quitongo appealed to Edinburgh’s African community to check its health.

Sandison said: “As with football, the key to success is teamwork, and it has been shown that people are four times more likely to stop smoking when they have help to do so.”