Medical groups welcome new anti-smoking campaign

I see children every week with conditions which are made worse by second-hand smoke.

Most parents would be horrified to know that even a short car journey where an adult has been smoking would result in breakdown products of nicotine in their child's urine.

This shows exactly why we should all make our homes and cars smoke-free and that children need protection from exposure to second-hand smoke.

Levels of tobacco smoke in a car can be even higher than in a smoky bar and second-hand smoke has been strongly linked to chest infections in children, asthma, ear problems and cot deaths.

We have long campaigned on this issue and today's announcement is a significant victory.

But when it comes to smoking in cars when children are present, we are calling on Government to now go the extra mile and make it illegal.

Research has found that children whose parents smoke are 1.5 times as likely to develop asthma as those whose parents do not smoke.

Additionally, children living with parents who smoke have higher chances of later taking up the habit themselves.