A COUPLE who smoked 35 cigarettes a day between them for almost 40 years are urging others to follow in their footsteps and kick the habit.

Brenda and Ken Mason, of The Meadows, Prestwich, are encouraging smokers to attend a special day of events organised by Bury Stop Smoking Service and Cancer Research UK.

To mark National No Smoking Day on Wednesday the two organisations have joined forces to encourage people to quit.

Representatives from Cancer Research UK and Bury Stop Smoking Service will be on hand to give out advice and talking about the health risks of smoking.

For Brenda and Ken, giving up was not easy as they had both smoked since being teenagers.

Brenda (55), smoked 20 cigarettes a day since the age of 16, but was determined to give up after developing angina.

Ken (58) had smoked around 15 cigarettes a day since the same age, and was also keen to give up for health reasons.

The couple, who have three children and four grand-children, packed in the habit together with the help of nicotine patches on January 3 and have gradually reduced the number of patches needed to stop the cravings over the past three months.

And they have put aside the £50 they would have normally spent on cigarettes each week and already enjoyed a long weekend in Scarborough thanks to the spare cash.

Brenda said: "We honestly didn't think we could do it. When we'd tried before we only managed two days at the most.

"It hasn't been plain sailing, but we both feel so much better that it's worth it. Going to Scarborough with the money we would have spent on cigarettes was a lovely treat and I'm glad we put the money on one side to reward ourselves.

"We knew we had to give up smoking for health reasons. Our children are very proud of us and I already feel much better and don't need to stop any more for a rest when I walk up a hill!"

Ken, who works for Trafford Borough Council, said: "I already feel much better. I would definitely urge anyone who is thinking about stopping smoking to just go for it.

"We have certainly found using the Stop Smoking Service a big help and the fact we've given up together has also spurred us on."

During 2004, 1,018 people received help from Bury Stop Smoking Service to quit and it is hoped that even more smokers will cast their cigarettes aside this year.

Cancer Research UK will be encouraging smokers to give up as part of its Reduce the Risk campaign which aims to help people learn how lifestyle changes can drastically alter their odds of being diagnosed with cancer.

Ruth Hardiman, from Cancer Research UK, said: "This will be a brilliant opportunity for Cancer Research UK to work with Bury Stop Smoking Service to send out a very clear message on the dangers of smoking"

Cancer Research UK and Bury Stop Smoking Service will be running a stand together in the Mill Gate shopping centre in Bury from 10am to 4pm on Wednesday.