Two colleagues who smoked 50 cigarettes a day between them over a combined total of 36 years have kicked the habit in time for Sunday's ban.

Forklift truck driver Joe Smith, 21, and sales desk employee Louise Wilson, 42, opted to join a stop-smoking group hosted by their employers Gesipia Blind Riveting Systems, on Dalton Lane in Keighley.

The duo, joined by a third colleague, decided to attend the sessions, which were run by the Bradford and Airedale teaching PCT, to get support with giving up in time for July 1 - when smoking will become illegal in enclosed public places.

Joe, of Keighley, who started smoking at 13 and had built up a 30-a-day habit, said his past attempts to quit had been in vain.

He said the help from the PCT's Stop Smoking Service and the camaraderie of giving up with friends had helped him stay smoke-free. "It's just a bit of moral support," he said.

And he has also taken the opportunity to get fit in the hope he might one day join the police. "When I was a smoker I wasn't fit, I couldn't run," he said.

Mum-of-two Louise had been a smoker for about 29 years. With the support of the PCT, colleagues, friends and family, she set herself a date to give up her 20-a-day addiction.

"I got to the point where I thought the only place I would be able to smoke would be outside and at home, so I thought I might as well give up," she said.

As well as being able to breathe more easily she has also noticed a massive difference in terms of money. She said the initial nicotine withdrawal had been "awful" but since then she barely had to cope with cravings.

And she said it had been a help to give up among friends.

"Every time I see Joe we say, How are you doing?' it's very friendly, it's nice," she said.

Ian Dockerill, health and safety co-ordinator at Gesipa, said as well as inviting the PCT to offer its stop smoking service to employees, the company, which up until May allowed smoking in almost all areas of the building and grounds, had also set up a designated smoking spot outside.

He said about 30 of 70 employees were smokers. "If you have somebody who smokes 30 to 40 a day and all of a sudden you make them give up, what are their stress levels going to be like?

"Many have said they welcome the ban and some said it has encouraged them to give up, a lot are giving up of their own accord."

To contact Bradford's Stop Smoking Service telephone (01274) 363559.