A MAJOR crackdown on rogue traders who sell cigarettes to children and young people in East Lancashire will be launched next week.

The Keep It Out campaign highlights the dangers of illegal tobacco and encourages communities to take action against those who sell it to young people.

Tobacco Free Futures has chosen to run the campaign in East Lancashire after the area was revealed as an illegal tobacco ‘hot spot’.

Dr Sohail Bhatti, Interim Director of Public Health at NHS East Lancashire, backed the scheme, which starts on Monday.

He said: “On average, over 500 people in East Lancashire die each year because of smoking-related diseases.

“It's worrying that East Lancashire is a hot spot for illegal tobacco.

“We need to work together in our communities to stop illegal cigarettes being sold to children so that they don’t become one of these terrible statistics in the future.

“I welcome this campaign and the very valuable work that Trading Standards does to keep out illegal tobacco.”

New research has revealed that half of the tobacco bought by 14 to 15-year-olds is illegal and one-in-four young smokers regularly gets offered illegal tobacco.

Dealers target children and young people by selling them single cigarettes, which makes it more affordable for them and gets them hooked so that they come back for more.

Illegal tobacco is also linked to low-level and large-scale organised crime, so it helps fund drugs and weapon smuggling, child exploitation and money laundering.

Andrea Crossfield, director of Tobacco Free Futures, said: “It doesn’t matter if it’s being sold in fag houses, shops, parks or by neighbours or family friends. Illegal tobacco makes it easier for children to get hold of cigarettes and helps to get them hooked into a deadly addiction to tobacco.

“The Keep It Out campaign is a way of letting concerned parents and community members know that they can take action and do something about this.”