Darryl Collins is 45 and works as a builder in Ipswich. He started smoking when he was about 20 years old, but managed to give up smoking about four years ago for eighteen months. ‘I have no idea why I started again. It just happened one night. I went out for a pint and bought a packet of fags and bang that was it I was hooked again. This time I realised it had just become a habit. I wasn’t enjoying it any more.

‘There is so much temptation in the building trade. I used to smoke in the van, then as soon as I had a tea break on site, I would have another fag. Coming to the stop smoking service has definitely helped me. I actually heard about it through my brother in law. He started coming and I thought if he can do it so can I! It’s funny but once I got it in my mind I was going to quit, I did it. I think it is important that you really want to quit. Part of it was wanting to show people I could as well. Nobody believed I really would. Everyone thinks of me as a smoker.

‘It had been playing on my mind for a while. Health did play a big part and of course the money side of it. But realistically you can always find money to buy fags. I think it was more to prove a point. I am an awkward git at times and I think I wanted to prove to people I could do it!’