HEALTH chiefs in Bolton have backed a campaign to prevent children taking up smoking by outlawing colourful cigarette packaging.

NHS Bolton has joined forces with parents in urging the Government to press ahead with the plans to make cigarettes only available in plain packets.

The proposed new law could see an end to eyecatching branding, including shiny holograms and novelty wrappers, they said.

Lesley Jones, Bolton’s interim director of public health, said: “We welcome the Government’s public consultation and encourage people, especially parents, to respond and support this public health measure which will have a positive impact on the health of young people in Bolton.

“In the previous government, consultation about measures to protect children and young people from tobacco marketing, 954 members of the public in Bolton voiced their support and I hope that this time the public, especially parents, do the same to prevent future generations from the harm caused by tobacco.”

Bolton has an estimated 50,900 smokers who cost the area’s health service about £79.4 million per year.

Two thirds of smokers start before they are 18 and smoking is the key cause of deaths in England, with more people dying from smoking than the six other major causes, including obesity and alcohol.

In Bolton, smoking claims the lives of more than 500 people every year and currently, 20 per cent of deaths in the town are caused by respiratory conditions. Supermarkets were forced to hide cigarettes from display earlier this month, following the introduction of new laws.

The law applies to large shops and supermarkets, which could be fined £5,000 if they break it.

Andrea Crossfield, director of Tobacco Free Futures said: “Smoking is a childhood addiction.

In the North West, four out of five children who try smoking do so before they are 14 years old.”