Department of Health launches new anti-smoking drive

The Department of Health has launched the second wave of its anti-smoking advertising campaign, backed by new research detailing children's attitudes to the habit.

According to the poll of 1,000 children in England aged between seven and 13, 98 per cent of youngsters with a parent who smokes wish they would give up.

The survey also found that 91 per cent of children insisted they will never try a cigarette, while 88 per cent said they wish nobody in the world was a smoker.

With more than eight million people still smoking in England, public health minister Anne Milton said it was clear from the findings that "children really want their parents to give up smoking".

She added: "It's not easy to give up, but we hope the campaign will give people that extra bit of encouragement they need to quit."

The new adverts, which encourage people to order an NHS Quit Kit, feature real children talking about how worried they are about their parents' smoking.

Items such as a quit planner, willpower booster and 'mythbuster' are available in the kit, which can be ordered for free online.