SWEET-TOOTHED residents across East Renfrewshire are being urged to back a fundraising drive by agreeing to a 'dechox' during February.

The plea has been issued by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), which wants to recruit people who are willing to give up chocolate for an entire month.

And the Dechox Challenge could be more difficult than it sounds, with research carried out for the BHF revealing one in five people would find it easier to give up sex or kick their coffee habit than ditch their sweet treats.

Daniel Field, of the BHF, said: “Our love of chocolate is plain to see and we are undoubtedly infatuated with the sweet stuff.

"From the moment we wake up until we go to sleep, this survey reveals the lengths people will go to so they don’t have to part with their chocolate.

“By challenging yourself to a dechox this February, you will be able to put your will power to the test whilst raising funds for our vital research.

"Ditching the chocolate for 28 days will leave you feeling like you’ve conquered something huge – and the money you raise will help fund breakthroughs to help beat heart and circulatory diseases for good.”

For more information or to sign up, visit www.bhf.org.uk/dechox.