EACH time an anti-smoking advert appeared on TV, long-term smoker Chris Stubbs got a glare from his children.

They wanted their dad to seek help to beat his nicotine addiction.

Now the 49-year-old, of Mafeking Street, Longton, is no longer getting those glares after giving up last year.

He said: "I had smoked from the age of 16. I mainly started because all my mates smoked. Back in the 1970s there wasn't so much information about cancer and heart disease and all the other illnesses that smoking can cause.

"Smoking was more socially acceptable. You would see film stars smoking on the television all the time.

"It was a social habit, but I got into it pretty quickly. I enjoyed it and it is very addictive. Towards the end I was smoking roll-ups, perhaps a 50-gram packet a week, which probably works out as 20 cigarettes a day. A TV campaign really made me think about quitting. There were adverts with children, where it showed the effect smoking can have on them. I have three children and each time the adverts came on, they would turn and look at me. The main reason I decided to quit was for the kids, because, to be honest, I really enjoyed it."

Chris attended an anti-smoking session at Stoke City's Britannia Stadium after seeing an advert in The Sentinel.

He added: "There was no pressure put on you to give up smoking.

"They talked about why you wanted to give up.

"Then they put me on two types of medication. I was put on nicotine patches and an inoculator, which is like a mouthpiece which you put tobacco in. You still get a hit of nicotine and come off it gradually.

"I did try to quit a few years ago, but I was just on the patches and it didn't work very well for me. But this time I went through the whole 12-week course without smoking.

"I haven't smoked since just before Easter. I still attend the sessions, but I go now because I know people there.

"It hasn't entered my head to smoke.

"I feel perfectly healthy. I did put on a bit of weight, but I'm controlling that and I've been doing a lot of walking. Food tastes nicer, everything is good and the children are proud of me."

Chris was inspired by children Liam, aged 16, Jake, aged 13, and 10-year-old Sam, pictured with his dad.

Jake, who attends St Thomas More Catholic College, in Longton, said: "Giving up smoking is good for his health. I wanted him to give up. I kept telling him he should stop smoking."