A PHARMACIST who lost her dad to lung cancer is determined to help others quit smoking.

Karen Downing's father John died three years ago, giving her the resolve to help others beat their addiction.

He had a cancerous lung removed when she was six-years-old but he struggled on for 33 years with one lung, amazing doctors who had given him just six months to live.

The cancer was caused by him smoking up to 60 cigarettes a day but even though he gave up, the damage was done and he contracted lung cancer again and died.

Mrs Downing, aged 42, and other members of the team at Giles Pharmacy, Cranham Drive, Warndon, Worcester, have completed courses to help wean others off cigarettes before the ban on smoking comes into place on Sunday, July 1.

The ban will cover virtually all enclosed public places, including offices, factories, pubs and bars, but not people's own homes.

Mrs Downing, who has never smoked herself, said: "My dad was my world and I had to watch him die for what seemed like a second time, which was very hard. It had a profound effect on me."

"Smokers say to me, You don't know what it's like' but I don't smoke because I have spent my whole life watching what it's done to my father."

Mrs Downing completed the full NHS quit smoking advisers course last April and her colleagues, Sheena Bescoby and Ruth Tudge, have completed shorter courses.

The course trains them to look closely at the extent of each smoker's habit so they can work out a tailor-made programme to help them quit, providing advice, emotional support and practical guidance.

They also have support from a nurse who comes in to see customers by appointment every Thursday, providing support to people who cannot afford nicotine replacement therapy so they can get treatments and prescriptions on the NHS.

Anyone who wants to set up an appointment with the nurse to help them give up smoking can call 01905 760222.

Smokers can also get help to kick their habit by calling the NHS Smoking Helpline on 08001 690169.