A HEART attack victim today revealed how he had given up 45 cups of tea and 35 cigarettes a day in a bid to save his life.

Darwen councillor Frank Connor, 57, who represents the Marsh House ward, is now urging others to do the same before it is too late.

Coun Connor was given a rude awakening in 2003 when he suffered three heart attacks in one day but the final straw came 12 months later, in September 2004, when he had a major heart bypass operation.

He has now been discharged by his surgeon, told the operation was a complete success and has returned to work but he has urged other people to learn by his mistakes.

Coun Connor said: "My heart attacks did shake me up and the fear of having the operation was great.

"It made me drastically change my lifestyle. I now balance a reasonable diet, I have stopped smoking and only have one cup of tea a day because of the caffeine.

"I don't want to die yet so I'm doing everything to keep myself alive and stopping smoking was the main thing. If people have heart problems as I had there's no point in continuing smoking and the NHS wasting time doing the operation.

"Smoking clogs up the arteries which causes the problem in the first place.

"If God gives you a chance you should do everything to take advantage of it. Even if you don't have the operation and are on tablets for the rest of your life.

"In a morning I would normally have had a cigarette and cup of tea and a piece of toast. Now I have a pint of hot water with a touch of lemon, then two pieces of fruit like a banana and apple.

"Half way through the morning I have a bowl of porridge, lots of vegetables at lunchtime and a normal meal in the evening.

"Looking at the number of people who are just dropping down dead in their 50s I just thank my lucky stars.

"When you are sliding down a wall in King George's Hall in pain you have to look at your life and I got that chance."

Coun Connor, who has five children and three grandchildren, will return to sit as a JP for the first time tomorrow since the heart attacks and is now back at work as a tenant support officer.