RETIRED weaver Eunice Croft admits it has been the hardest challenge of her life.

But she rates giving up smoking after more than four decades as one of the best moves she has ever made.

Seven years to the month since her husband Tony Croft died of cancer, Eunice, of Uttoxeter Road, Tean, is adamant she has stubbed out her last cigarette.

The 68-year-old grandmother, pictured below, who has smoked 10 to 15 cigarettes a day since the age of 23, finally took the plunge after a plea from her NHS worker daughter, Louise Johnson.

And as she enjoys strolls around the Staffordshire Moorlands, Eunice wishes she had made the call years ago.

"I can walk further, do more gardening and best of all I can play with my grandchildren for a whole lot longer. I feel like an 18-year-old," she said. "Tony loved his cigarettes, just like me, but I'm sure he would be really proud I've quit."

On Wednesday, March 11 – national No Smoking day – Louise called her mother to tell her about a special mobile trailer from NHS North Staffordshire and The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation offering an advice shop in Cheadle.

Ever since, Eunice has used patches and sheer determination to beat the addiction. Now she is reaping the reward.

She said: "Louise called to tell me about advice available in Cheadle car park but I told her stubbing out would only make me gain weight. She said she would rather have a fat mum than a mum in Heaven so I caught the next bus into town. I've put on about a stone but I couldn't be more glad."

After three months, the patches came off and Eunice has surprised advisers at her weekly support groups with her gritty resolution. She said: "Straight away a worker asked when I wanted to stop, expecting me to say my next birthday or Christmas. I said 'now'.

"It's so hard to come off. I have loved cigarettes for so long but now when I get the craving I say to myself, 'what are you doing Eunice, you don't smoke anymore'.

"If I get really desperate I have a telephone number to ring but normally it is just 10 minutes of torture until the urge passes.

"I am so glad I have stopped – my senses of smell and taste are slowly returning and I feel marvellous."

Eunice remembers all her friends smoking when she took up the habit as a worker at Tean Mill. But she reckons times have changed beyond belief since then. She said: "Nowadays there is no comfort in smoking.

"If you want a cigarette at work or in a pub or a restaurant you have to go outside – anybody who lights up standing at the bus stop is treated like a leper. But now I don't smoke any more, you can see the smell is so offensive. For 40 years I had never realised."

Eunice's delighted daughter Louise, aged 33, said: "I couldn't imagine the struggle if I had to give up chocolate so mum has really impressed me with her willpower."

The quit group used by Eunice, Roy Castle Fag Ends, visits Tean Village Hall every Monday from 10am to 11.30am to offer help and advice.

Adviser Liz Tatnar said: "Eunice has done tremendously well and we are all really proud. Quitting smoking is extremely difficult and hopefully a lot more people can benefit from our support."