A PENSIONER who smoked for more than half a century has told how she quit the weed in time for her 80th birthday.Gwen Ingham, first started smoking at the age of 21 but two months ago she stubbed out her last cigarette and she has not looked back since.

A PENSIONER who smoked for more than half a century has told how she quit the weed in time for her 80th birthday.

Gwen Ingham, first started smoking at the age of 21 but two months ago she stubbed out her last cigarette and she has not looked back since.

Previous attempts to quit had failed and she claims her success this time round was down to drop-in sessions laid on by Suffolk Primary Care Trust.

She said: “I'd tried to give up before but I hadn't succeeded, so I am very pleased with myself to have done it this time and will definitely stick with it.

Mrs Ingham is using nicotine patches and sweets to help her quit. She said: “I kept getting bronchitis and had to keep going to my doctors for antibiotics. Then it hit me that it wasn't fair that I should get all these antibiotics when I hadn't done anything to try and help myself.”

The pensioner from Bury St Edmunds said she read about the stop smoking service in the newspaper.

She said: “The people there are very good - if it hadn't been for them, I would never have been able to do it. The most helpful part has been sitting and being able to chat to somebody who will give you all the support you need.

“I feel better for it and my doctor is pleased - so I'd encourage anyone else thinking about giving up to go for it. If I can do it at my age, then I'm sure anyone can.”

Anyone who wants to stop smoking can turn up to the sessions without an appointment and speak to an advisor privately and in confidence.