Pictured: Quitters, Aidan Page and Mick Hoey

Determined workers at Lafarge's Mountsorrel Quarry are looking forward to a healthier and wealthier 2012 after stubbing out their cigarette habit. 

Six staff showed true grit by giving up following a health screening day run by Leicester city's smoking cessation team. 

Having successfully quit, the quarrymen are now urging others whose New Year's resolutions may be floundering a few weeks in to stick with it. 

Father of two, Mick Hoey, who lives with his wife in Narborough, packed in a 35-year, 20-a-day habit and is feeling fitter for it. 

Mick, 49, said: 

"I started smoking as a kid at 14 - I guess it was peer pressure, everyone else seemed to be smoking and in those days it was still regarded as 'cool'. 

"There weren't the warnings of the dangers of smoking around so much in those days." 

Although Mick enjoyed smoking, as he grew older he did consider giving up on numerous occasions, spurred on by his non-smoking wife, and his increasingly poor health. 

"In my job as an electrician I'm working in lots of different locations on site and it was starting to get difficult for me to climb stairs and generally get about without feeling out of breath all the time. 

"I didn't like to admit it to myself but deep down I knew it was because of the fags." 

Mick's growing realisation happened to coincide with news of a visit from the NHS smoking cessation team. 

The team were invited in by quarry operator Lafarge Aggregates & Concrete UK as part of the annual Health & Safety month - an initiative aimed at highlighting health and safety issues, encouraging good practice and improving employees' well-being. 

After meeting and chatting with the team Mick decided he'd do his best to give up. 

Along with colleagues he attended fortnightly group sessions where the cessation team gave advice and did general health checks and the quarry workers shared experiences. 

"I've never really been that into all this group session business but it actually was a worthwhile thing to do. 

"You felt you were getting support and the team were really taking on board your concerns and listening to you rather than thinking you were just moaning. 

"It was also good to know the company was behind us and that our managers here were really enthusiastic about us taking steps to improve our lifestyle." 

Mick has now been a happier, healthier non-smoker for more than five months and is feeling the benefits. 

"My cravings have gone now and I feel stronger and fitter in myself and I don't get out of breath climbing stairs or doing anything strenuous. 

"Giving up has been a really positive experience for me. I know there might be some people out there who made a New Year resolution to quit and might be faltering, but my message to them is keep going - you'll be glad you did."