TWO ex-smokers from Redditch are urging the rest of the town's cigarette sinners to kick the habit and join a new quit smoking class.

Barbara Jones, 54, from Lakeside and Robert Matthews, 57, of Webheath had both smoked for 30 years before deciding to stop and did so with the help of the free Quit Smoking sessions.

It has been set up at Church Hill YMCA with the help of a £130,000 grant given to Worcestershire Health Authority.

Barbara Jones, who joined a quit smoking session four months ago,said: "The support of the group has been one of the main things for me personally.

"Sometimes I felt very negative but I'd come out more positive about things."

And Mr Matthews, who decided to quit mainly for his health, said: "I feel much better since giving up.

"I'm not as short of breath, don't cough as much and my wife, Margaret, is very happy because the house doesn't smell of smoke anymore."

Specialist quit smoking advisor Pauline Everitt will be taking up the role at Church Hill on Friday.

For more details, call 68638.