A BAN to stop the display of tobacco products in small shops will do nothing to help to stop people smoking, say Bolton newsagents.

The ban, which came into force yesterday, has now been extended to see tobacco products being stopped from being displayed in all premises, after it was made illegal in large stores and supermarkets in 2012.

Health campaigners have said the ban is an "important step forward", but retailers said the there is not enough proof that it will have any effect of the number of children smoking.

Blean Azeez, from Deansgate Newsagents, in Deansgate, branded the ban “useless”.

He said: “It is useless, people will still smoke no matter what if they want to.

“We have had the cover up for a few days already, and we have seen no affect on our trade at all.

“We sometimes get kids coming in, but they don’t get served because we ID anyone looking underage.”

Another Bolton newsagent, who asked not to be named, claimed that it may lead to an increase in thefts from newsagents.

He said: “It used to be very quick to serve people, but now the cover will cause a distraction and people might have more time to take something from the counter.”

Suleman Khonat, spokesman for the Tobacco Retailers' Alliance, said the ban would inhibit small businesses.

He said: "There will be real difficulties around its application, including longer transaction times, and the costs of implementation such as the installation of new gantries.

“Coming on top of plain packaging, it is an unnecessary burden on shops already struggling with red tape.

"There are other more effective means of stopping children from taking up smoking."

But campaign group Ash said the ban was an important breakthrough, and would help to prevent young people starting smoking.

Hazel Cheeseman, director of policy Ash, said: "Two-thirds of smokers start before the age of 18, so it is vital that everything is done to put tobacco out of sight to protect future generations.

"The display ban in small shops will work hand in hand with standardised packs, which will be introduced in May 2016, to further protect children from glitzy tobacco packaging."

Alison Cox, director of cancer prevention at Cancer Research UK, also welcomed the ban.

She said: "Smoking kills 100,000 people every year in the UK. It's great that tobacco will no longer be in plain view of children and young people every time they go into a shop.

"Research shows that children exposed to tobacco displays are more likely to start smoking and removing these eye-catching, colourful walls of cigarettes will protect them from tobacco marketing."