lthough smoking is known to cause numerous health problems, including a shortened life-span, one London woman seems to be immune to the perils of cigarettes.

Winnie Langley, who turned 100 on Tuesday, celebrated her century-marking birthday by lighting up her 170,000th cigarette-a feat most would consider to anathema to a long life. However, not for Ms. Lamgley, who has been smoking since 1914, when she was just seven years old.

The one-time launderette worker says she first started smoking a couple of weeks after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, whose death helped spark the First World War.

"A lot of people smoked during the war. It helped steady the nerves," Langley said.

Despite the passage of another World War, numerous health warnings about cigarettes, and nation-wide bans forcing smokers to make more and more concessions, Langley's 5-cigarattes-a-day habit has remained steady. And as she reaches the milestone of living for 100 years, Langley said she has no plans of stopping now.

So what does she think is the secret for her longevity, considering the fact that her nicotine-habit has spanned well over nine decades?

"I never inhaled," answered a defiant Langley, as she reached to light up her 170,000th cigarette with the candle from her birthday cake.