A LEADING family doctor has revealed he has a girl patient who first started smoking at the age of six.

She was given the cigarette by a member of her family. Now she is aged 14 and has a 10-a-day habit.

Dr Ian James, who works at the Spring House Surgery in Chorley Old Road, Bolton, says he regularly sees youngsters who have started to smoke by the age of 10 and has called on parents to take more responsibility.

He said: "One of my patients has admitted smoking her first cigarette at six. I do see 10 and 11-year-olds who are smokers and the situation certainly isn't getting any better.

"I really don't think the message is getting through to them. I look at the youngsters in the Town Hall square and I despair. What is currently being done to tackle the problem is like sticking a plaster on a much larger wound.

"I think it's related to inadequate supervision by parents of children during their vulnerable growth years. Parents should be doing more to stop their children smoking."

The news has horrified the borough's health chiefs, who already run a series of programmes in Bolton schools and have vowed to do all they can to tackle the problem.

Debbie Collinson, of Bolton Primary Care Trust, said: "It's so disappointing that children this young have access to cigarettes and we have to appeal to the responsibility of anyone supplying tobacco to a child.

"But we have strong teams in schools and we are promoting smoke-free homes because there is evidence to show that children who come from homes where their parents smoke are more likely to start.

"We are encouraging adults to smoke outside so their children know it isn't a habit that should be taken up."

Health bosses have appointed a smoking counsellor to offer help to youngsters at the borough's secondary schools if they want to quit smoking.

The healthy school adviser, who can provide practical help and support to young people hoping to give up, earns about £20,000 a year.

While no figures exist for the number of young smokers in Bolton, statistics show the town has a higher-than-average number of adult smokers, with nearly 30 per cent of the adult population lighting up on a regular basis, compared to a national average of 27 per cent.

The Bolton News launched its Stub It Out campaign when these figures were revealed, calling for smoking to be banned in all enclosed public places.

In February last year MPs voted with a massive majority to see smoking outlawed in all enclosed public places, including pubs, clubs and private members bars.

The ban will be introduced on July 1 this year and anyone caught flouting it will face a £50 on-the-spot fine.