ELECTRONIC cigarettes may be being sold “in and around” schools.

That was a claim made in a new Bury Council report about how the authority plans to combat smoking.

The report says: “In recent months, there have been reports of disposable electronic cigarettes being marketed towards children.

“There are various flavours available, which are largely nicotine free and are sold for £3 to £4.

“These are becoming increasingly popular and anecdotal reports suggest that they have been sold in and around school and that some brands may even contain nicotine.

“This is obviously a cause for concern.”

Although they cannot be sold to under 18s, these type of cigarettes are legal and unregulated.

The report highlights aims to get people to quit smoking, stop people from taking up cigarettes, and protect people from second-hand smoke.

At present, 22 per cent — which equates to 40,700 borough residents — smoke and they spend a total of £56.3 million a year, or an average of £1,383 a year on cigarettes.

Cigarette sales in Bury brings in £42.9 million in tax, but the net cost of smoking to the taxpayer in Bury, for services like healthcare, is £52.9 million.

The council’s health representative, Cllr Rishi Shori, said: “Fewer children now take up smoking than at any time since the Second World War.

“The challenges are to influence children so they will not start smoking, to persuade people, especially those from deprived comm-unities, to stop smoking and to make exposure to second-hand smoke unacceptable. This strategy will help us meet these challenges.”

Recently, the council banned smoking in Bury’s public play areas and the borough’s children’s centres have also agreed to display signs in their play areas. As part of the strategy, Trading Standards and Bury police will combat the sale of illegal tobacco; the Probation Trust will work with prisoners to offer smoking cessation services; and the council’s environ-mental department will work with businesses to ensure they do not allow smoking on their premises.

The strategy also notes the help of the fire service, schools, Bury Youth Offend-ing Team and housing associations.

The report has a section about shisha pipe smoking and claims that smoking through a shisha pipe for an hour is equivalent to smoking 100 cigarettes.

To read the full report: visit tinyurl.com/pb3gd9n