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Convicts at HMP Kilmarnock were offered an eight-week course in mindfulness a Buddhist technique aimed at helping participants take notice of thoughts, feelings, body sensations and the world around you.

Experts claim that the technique is helping long-term prisoners to quit smoking.

I didnt really expect anything but the meditation has given me a better sense of well being.

Inmate

More than 70 per cent of Scotlands prisoners smoke and the Scottish Prison Service is planning to make the countrys jails completely smoke-free. It emerged that 10 long-term prisoners participated in the HMP Kilmarnock Mindfulness Group, an eight-week training course.

Pat Harris, specialist forensic physiotherapist and Heather Gillespie, smoking cessation officer, from NHS Ayrshire and Arran, presented their findings at last months Scottish Smoking Cessation Conference 2014.

They reported: Feedback from the group suggests that Mindfulness not only aids cessation, but prepares and provides contemplators of quitting the skills to approach abstinence and the skills to maintain this.

The eight-week course explored topics including thoughts, emotions and loving kindness and helped inmates deal with tobacco cravings.

After completing the course, one inmate said: I didnt really expect anything but the meditation has given me a better sense of well being."

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Convicts get meditation lessons to help them quit smoking