AFTER living on a habit of up to 30 a day, a Bolton mum has spoken of her battle to overcome the pull of the cigarette.

Mary Graham had been smoking since the age of 15 but the habit was destroying her life.

The 62-year-old from Kearsley is now eight months in from quitting and has not looked back.

On the eve of the 10th anniversary of the public smoking ban in England, she has talked about life as a smoker and how it risked ruining her's.

She said: "I was diagnosed with COPD which a consequence of being quite a heavy smoker for a long time.

"I was smoking between 20 and 30 a day. I was a child of the 60's and started smoking at around 15-years-old, it was part of our culture.

"The smoking ban emphasised how society has changed its views towards smoking. I didn't resent going outside and could see that it made sense.

"My health was a prime motivator for quitting. My breathing had been problematic over 10 years and I was beginning to struggle going up any incline like stairs of a slope. I was breathless, uncomfortable and angry with myself.

"I every other respect I was healthy, it was just my breathing. Five years ago I went to the GP and was diagnosed."

Ms Graham, a retired mental health nurse, admits she put off going to see her GP because she feared having to face the health issue.

It was not until she contracted a chest infection was she forced to face the result of 40 plus years of smoking.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is common a condition among smokers where the airwaves narrow, making it difficult to breath.

It is a chronic condition but sufferers can improve their health if they quit smoking, but left untreated and it can have a significant impact on their quality of life and leading to life-threatening problems.

After her diagnosis, the mum-of-one attempted to quit using nicotine patches but they irritated her skin and eventually she gave them up, turning back to the cigarette.

Another GP recommended the Bolton cessation service and with their help she quit for a short time.

Six months free, she ended up being pulled back by the need to smoke but not wanting to harm her health any further, Ms Graham return to the service and has now been smoke free for eight months.

She adds: "I felt embarrassed that I had started smoking again but they did not judge me and I knew I quit once so could do it again.

"If I had continued to smoke it would have impacted on my life dramatically. I risked a stroke, which would have been dreadful, or a heart attack, and I would have never been able to enjoy the things in life that I love.

"Now I feel much better in my general health, I can enjoy life more, I can go for walks with my lovely Labrador and not feel like an 80 -year-old.

"I don't judge other people for smoking but I would say, I truly did not think I would be able to stop smoking because it was such an established habit in my life for 40 years. If I can do it, anyone can do it!"

To find out more about the Bolton Stop Smoking Service, based in Crompton Health Centre, call 01204 462364.