Even moderate fitness training could mean smokers lose the desire to have a puff, say psychologists at the University of Exeter.

Some 20 moderately heavy smokers took part in the study, all of whom had abstained from cigarettes for 15 hours before beginning the trial.

After being shown either smoking-related or neutral images, the volunteers then spent the next 15 minutes either resting or pedalling on an exercise bike before they were shown the images again.

The researchers found the smokers who had exercised spent 11 per cent less time looking at the images than those who had rested.

These findings add to previous studies which have shown that brisk walking can reduce cigarette cravings.

It is thought that exercise dampens smoking triggers, such as stress, because fitness training boosts feel-good brain chemicals known as endorphins.

Lead researcher, University of Exeter PhD student Kate Janse Van Rensburg, said: "This study adds to the growing evidence that exercise can be a great help for people trying to give up smoking."