A WOMAN from east Hull who hiccuped every day for six years says she has finally been cured by a hypnotherapist.

Amanda Weston, 41, wrote to the Mail asking for help after suffering from six bouts of hiccups a day, with each one lasting for up to 20 minutes.

Amanda, a cleaner, said the condition caused so much embarrassment she had to walk out of shops and get off buses to wait for her hiccups to subside.

After reading her story, Sheila Granger from the Trance Actions Hypnotherapy Service in Beverley contacted the Mail to offer her services for free.

And following her first session with Sheila, Amanda has had several hiccup-free days followed by a day when she had just one single hiccup.

Amanda, of Stanhope Avenue, off Holderness Road, east Hull, said she was amazed.

She said: "I just can't believe it – I feel great.

"I've had literally just one hiccup since my session. The back of my throat seems clear now.

"I could always feel something there but it's gone."

During the hypnotherapy, Sheila found out how Amanda's life had been affected by her hiccups and taught her simple techniques to cope with a bout.

Amanda was then put into a 'trance' which Sheila said allowed her to talk to her subconscious mind in an attempt to persuade her the hiccuping fits should become a thing of the past.

Following Amanda's hypnotherapy session Sheila, who is also a magistrate, said the early outlook was positive.

She said: "I felt really sorry for Amanda.

"I read her story in the paper and thought 'this is something I can probably help this lady with'.

"After having ran the session I think Amanda's chances of success are very high.

"During the session, I'm watching Amanda all the time looking for clues that suggestions are being accepted.

"It was a really good session and Amanda should see a massive difference."

Amanda, who works six days at week at Machine Mart in Holderness Road, east Hull, and Cecil Bingo, in Anlaby Road, west Hull, said she had contacted the hypnotherapist to offer her thanks.

She said: "Sheila was really happy to hear my hiccups had stopped and glad I got in touch to let her know my progress.

"I'm so grateful to her for helping me.

"I don't think my hiccups are going to come back now because whatever was at the back of my throat has cleared."