(Image: Supplied)
A WHITBY man in his 70s has praised a "vital" service which has helped him quit smoking after 65 years.
Terry Wilkinson, 79, had been smoking since the age of 14.
He finally quit the habit, which he says cost him over £200 a month, after help from North Yorkshire Council's stop smoking service after he was hospitalised with severe breathing problems.
He said: "I started smoking when I was 14 and apart from a few short breaks, smoked continuously for 65 years.
"Over the years I tried various ways to quit, but nothing seemed to work.
"The support from council advisor Selina Branagan has been fantastic.
"She visited me very quickly, talked me through the options and suggested a nicotine vape."
'The savings have helped me towards buying a new electric car'
He added: "Since stopping smoking my health has improved dramatically and I feel so much better.
"Financially, it's made a huge difference too.
"I was spending around £200 a month on cigarettes and the savings have even helped me towards buying a new electric car."
On the advice of his pharmacist, Terry was referred to North Yorkshire Council’s Living Well Smoke Free service.
He quit smoking on June 12 and has not smoked a cigarette since.
He said: "I would encourage anyone thinking about quitting to get in touch with the council because the support is there and it really works."
Councillor Michael Harrison, North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for health and adult services, congratulated Mr Wilkinson.
Cllr Harrison said: "This is a fantastic achievement and shows that it is never too late to quit smoking.
"Stopping smoking is one of the best things people can do for their health, whatever their age.
"Our advisers provide tailored support and access to a range of quitting aids to help people find the approach that works best for them.
"We congratulate former smokers like Terry on reaching new milestones and thank them for sharing their story to inspire others who may be considering taking their first step towards becoming smoke-free."
Cllr Harrison also encouraged smokers to take part in Stoptober, the national campaign challenging people to quit for 28 days.
According to Action on Smoking and Health UK (ASH), there are around 47,000 smokers in North Yorkshire.
The council’s Living Well Smokefree service has supported nearly 6,000 people to quit smoking between April 2019 and March 2026.
The Living Well Smokefree service is available to anyone who lives or works in North Yorkshire, or who is registered with a GP in the county.
Residents can also get free access for six months to all the features of the Smoke Free app, which helps users manage cravings, track health improvements and see how much money they have saved by quitting.
The app also offers 24/7 support from stop smoking experts.
As part of the programme, residents can access free stop smoking aids worth up to £300, including nicotine replacement therapy, medication and vapes.
To download the app and find out more, visit www.yestoquit.co.uk.
The Living Well Smokefree service can be contacted on 01609 797272 or by emailing stop.smoking@northyorks.gov.uk.