TEENAGERS from Blackburn with Darwen have called for the Government to follow through with a ban on ‘glitzy’ packaging for cigarettes.

Tobacco Free Futures, a social enterprise that works to tackle tobacco in the borough, has been working with youngsters to lobby the government to approve proposals for standardised packaging.

It recently staged an event at which attendees backed the plans, including Maryam Bash Hussain, 18, a member of the Youth Action organisation in Blackburn.

She said: “The younger generation look at packs and see gold and coloured packs. Today we all get excited when we saw the colourful packets but when we saw the plain ones we put them down, they’re boring which puts young people off.

“The harms are also written all over the plain packs so young people will know the harms.”

In Blackburn with Darwen, it is also estimated that smokers could save a total of £2 million if standardised packaging was introduced, due to the drop in sales.

Coun Brian Taylor, lead member for health and adult social care, said: “Investing in educating young people now is important to prevent them entering into an addiction.”