Gordon Brown's bitten nails made almost as many headlines as his Budget proposals. Women's Editor (and reformed nail-biter) CHRISTEN PEARS reports on a habit that's hard to give up

THE Budget was clearly a nail-biting experience for Gordon Brown. At 51, an age when most people have knocked their childhood finger chewing habits firmly on the head, the Chancellor displayed a set of nails bitten to the quick.

Friends say he picked up the habit at an early age while watching his favourite football team, Raith Rovers, but the pressures of looking after the economy seem to have exacerbated the problem. He did manage to stop briefly in 1998 but it now looks like he's back to his old ways.

So what is it that makes us bite our nails? Even bitter aloes isn't enough to deter the most determined biter. Nor is the thought of having torn nails and bleeding fingers - take it from me, someone whose childhood nickname was Tassel Tips.

Northallerton-based hypnotherapist Peter Needham believes the problem is related to stress and anxiety and he has successfully treated a number of clients using hypnosis.

"People don't want to bite their nails but something inside them drives them to do it. They just do it because they've always done it and it becomes a habit in the same way as smoking does," he says.

"Basically, it's a mild form of nervous disorder. If someone is particularly anxious or nervous about something, their nail biting will increase and if they're relaxed, it will diminish or even stop.

"I was recently visited by a patient I helped give it up three or four years ago. He was doing really well but a family bereavement made him start up again."

According to Mr Needham, hypnosis is such an effective treatment because it speaks directly to the subconscious.

"Nail biters aren't aware what they're doing. Even if you want to stop, you'll find it hard because the conscious has no control over the subconscious. Hypnosis works by making positive suggestions about stopping directly to the subconscious and you begin to see effects after a couple of sessions."

But if you don't want to try hynpnotherapy, there are alternatives. Sarah Wilkin, of the CACI Beauty Oasis in Darlington, says: "We get a lot of people in who want help to stop biting their nails - men and women - and there are things that can be done to help.

"We recommend a manicure once a week to promote growth. We can tidy up the nails and the cuticles, as well as softening the bitten skin. If your nails start to look good, you'll be less inclined to bite them.

"We also do nail extensions. We can't do them on very short nails but if you have a little bit of length, it's a great way to make your hands look nice and allow your own nails to grow."

Five tips to stop nail biting

* Have regular manicures to encourage growth. If your nails are looking nice, this will also discourage biting.

* Use hand cream and nail oil at home to promote growth and condition nails and cuticles. Pushing the cuticles back gently will also give the appearance of length.

* Always carry a nail file for getting rid of rough edges, rather than biting them.

* Use one of the nasty-tasting specialist products on the market to stop you putting your fingers into your mouth.

* Relax. Most nail biting is caused by stress and nervousness. Book yourself in for a massage.