She said she was not aware of the health risks when she first started smoking but does not want others to make the same mistake.

She has joined forces with leading health charities Cancer Research UK, Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) and Asthma and Lung UK and the Government to urge smokers to quit on No Smoking Day.

“I smoked for about 40 years and was heavily influenced by my friends and family around me,” she said.

“At such a young age I wasn’t aware of the health risks of smoking and soon found myself becoming addicted.

“Following a recent health scare, I realised how precious life is and became determined to quit, not just for my own health, but so I can be there fully for my children and grandchildren.

“To anyone out there thinking of giving up smoking, my advice is do it.”

The new campaign urges England’s 5.3 million smokers to make a quit attempt through their local stop smoking services, which can be found through the Better Health NHS tool.

Professor Sir Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, said: “Cigarettes kill. They cause at least 15 different types of cancers and increase your risk of developing more than 50 serious health conditions.

“Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health – no matter your age or how long you have smoked.”

Public health minister Dame Andrea Leadsom said: “Cigarettes are responsible for 64,000 deaths a year in England – no other consumer product kills up to two-thirds of its users.”