A COUPLE who are celebrating the first anniversary since quitting smoking have named their budgie after the NHS worker who helped them kick the habit.

It is 12 months since Val and Kevin Porter gave up smoking.

Since then, the couple, from Middleton St George, near Darlington, have saved a fortune by not buying cigarettes.

They clocked up 73 years of smoking between them but, since quitting, they say life has never been better.

The couple, who breed budgies, have named one of their birds after their smoking cessation advisor, Maggie Brown.

Mrs Porter, 51, said: “I can’t praise the Stop Smoking Service enough.

Quitting isn’t easy, but I was amazed how much easier it was with help.”

One of the main reasons they gave up was so they could see more of their granddaughter, oneyear- old Megan.

“My son and daughterin- law were reluctant to bring Megan round if the house was smoky.

“Now we see far more of her and she comes to stay the night, which would not have been possible when we both smoked inside. It’s fantastic to be a part of her life.”

Mrs Brown said: “Kevin and Val are a lovely couple and are proof that anyone can stop smoking.

I felt a bit teary when I learnt they’d named their budgie after me.”