GIVING up cigarettes is one of the hardest things to do, but a Bolton woman managed to quit a 60 a day habit in just five days.

After smoking for more than 25 years Mandy Wilson, aged 40, of Darley Street, Horwich, never believed she would succeed in giving up, but with help from Fresh Focus, Bolton's smoking cessation programme, a year on from quitting, she is still clean and finds the thought of lighting up repulsive.

She said: "My doctor told me that is was my last chance. I was fed up and felt really unhealthy.

"I used to walk up the road with my mum and she used to say 'How old are you?' because I was wheezing for breath but now walking is a hobby.

She added: "I have saved about £75 a week on cigarettes which over the year comes to £3,640, which is a holiday or a small car."

Cigarette prices have changed over the years but she estimates that she must have spent in excess of £50,000 during her years of smoking.

She added: "Everyone involved with the programme was marvellous and really supportive. I couldn't speak highly enough of them."

Smoking cessation specialist with Bolton Primary Care NHS Trust, Gary Bickerstaff congratulated her on her achievement.

He said: "Mandy has done fantastically well and deserves credit for her great achievement, but she is just the tip of the iceberg in Bolton really.

"On the Fresh Focus programme we will work with smokers whether they smoke five a day or 60 a day."

He added: "We are working with Total Fitness gym so that anyone who gives up for at least four weeks will be given a free pass and reduced membership rates as an incentive to continue."

Run at Lever Chambers in the town centre staff offer a range of quitting strategies, including nicotine replacement therapy and the anti-smoking treatment Zyban.

It involves attendance at weekly two hour workshops for a period of seven weeks.

Anyone interested in quitting should call 01204 360008 or 0845 300 1579.