HEALTH bosses at Blackburn with Darwen Council have welcomed House of Lords support to ban parents from smoking in cars carrying young children.

The council pointed to research by the British Lung Foundation which showed around half a million 11-15 year olds are exposed to secondhand smoke in family cars every week.

Peers also supported key amendments to the Children and Families Bill on standardised packaging, as well as an amendment to make it an offence to purchase tobacco on behalf of under 18s and to sell e-cigarettes to under 18s.

Coun Mohammed Khan, executive member for health and adult social care, said: “I welcome this decision. Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, 60 of which we know cause cancer.

“Hundreds of children suffering the effects of second-hand smoke are admitted to hospital every year with complications such as bronchitis, asthma and reduced lung function. We want to highlight this issue with parents.”