Reporter Mike Ribbeck continues his attempt to stop smoking

I RECEIVED a letter from a reader this morning who says every time you have a cigarette you take 11 minutes of your life.

I am sure like most statistics that figure can not be correct because, if it was, I would be due to die at the end of the week.

Still it is a sobering thought to think how much damage smoking can do to your health and that is one of the main things that has been keeping me going through these dark winter days.

The strange thing about quitting is that you think you have got through the worst and then the cravings come back with a vengeance.

Someone cheerfully told me yesterday he stopped smoking 10 years ago and there are still times he could kill for a fag. I just plan to keep going before the fags kill me.

The list of people who say they have stopped now includes Bob Kay of Clitheroe, Paula Birch of Blackburn, Joanne Dixon of Accrington, Natasha Richardson, Paul Roberts, of Darwen, Andrea Curran of Colne, Andrea Muldoon, of Darwen, N Thompson and M Wiggans, of Blackburn, Mr Billington, of Accrington, Deborah Heyes, Jane Billington and Allison McIntyre.

Remember if are planning to quit write to Michael Ribbeck at the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, Newspaper House, High Street, Blackburn, BB1 1HT or e-mail mribbeck@lancashire.newsquest.co.uk.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.