BOLTON health boss- es are urging people to back a campaign to axe eye-catching tobacco packaging from shops.

NHS Bolton wants people to support the “Plain Packs Protect” campaign, which pushes for the government to enforce plain, standardised tobacco packaging.

Pressure group Tob-acco Free Futures says the move would protect children from cigarettes.

If a plain packaging law was approved, it would put an end to novelty wrappers, shiny holograms, and bright colours.

Anyone who signs the pledge will also automatically send a letter to their local MP.

The estimated 50,900 smokers in Bolton are said to cost the area £79.4 million every year.

About 502 people in Bolton are said to die every year from health problems linked to smoking.

Bolton’s director of public health Wendy Meredith said: “Taking the small amount of time needed to sign the pledge is a crucial step towards protecting our young people, and future generations.

“I would encourage as many people as possible, especially paren-ts, to respond and supp- ort this public health measure which will have a major, positive impact on the health of young people in Bolton.”

Bolton Council and local politicians have also given their backing to the pledge.

Councillors will be bringing a motion to a meeting of the council, on July 4, asking chief executive Sean Harriss to write to Health Secretary Andrew Lan- sley, urging him to introduce standardis-ed packaging of tob-acco products. Bolton Council’s cabinet mem- ber for public health, Cllr Sufrana Bashir-Ismail, said: “There is clear evidence to show that the majority of smokers start at an early age, and are then addicted for life.

“If we can discourage our young people from taking up the habit in the first place, then we can help reduce the number of smoking-related deaths in the future.”

Supporters believe plain packaging will reduce smoking’s attr-activeness to young people, and curb misleading health messages.

They also believe it will increase the prom- inence of the picture health warnings on the packs, making them more powerful.

The pledge can be signed at tobaccofreefut ures.org/plainpackspr otect