I AM quite proud to be a "smug and snooty anti-smoker''. I turn my nose up (mostly away actually) when some inconsiderate person lights up near me.

I also let them know it by commenting just loud enough for my words to be heard - and not just by the smoker!

I am not a hypocrite, however. I do not have a 4x4 and do not drive to the corner shop.

I do not sit in my garage with the engine running. In fact, I have not got a car - I had to get rid of it due to suffering a stroke caused by the smoking I used to do, but which I stopped 15 years ago.

Had I not stopped, I would not have survived the stroke.

S Ireland (Letters, April 12) may not know of anyone who has been made ill by secondhand smoking, but I certainly know of several people who have suffered very uncomfortable, painful illnesses and who have finally died from the result of inhaling other people's smoke.

Their heartbroken families who were left behind could tell Mr. Ireland plenty about the side-effects!

If he wants to sit in his garage and smoke, that is entirely his choice, as long as he keeps to his garage and doesn't come out and inflict his disgusting habit on other people.

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