YOUNGSTERS are putting their health at risk by chewing tobacco meant for shisha pipes, according to councillors.

Coun Salim Mulla said he had seen youths chewing the tobacco, which comes in a variety of fruit flavours and is often brightly coloured.

Dangers include a risk of posioning from colourings as well as permanent mouth sores and cancers.

The Blackburn with Darwen Council Forum meeting on Thursday had already heard the local authority was taking a hard line on the sale of illicit tobacco.

Echoing calls by Coun Roy Davies for a crackdown on people who buy tobacco for youngsters, Coun Mulla urged further action.

He said: “I’m really glad that the council is clamping down on this, but there needs to be a further clamp down.

“I still see some kids with the small packets of tobacco. The tobacco is mixed with some other ingredients.

“I have seen them standing around, opening the packets outside corner shops.

What they do is put it in their hand, mix it and then put it in their mouth.

“I see a lot of kids doing this, so maybe it is something we need to look at.”

Coun Yusuf Jan-Virmani, executive member for neighbourhoods and customer services, said it was a particular problem in the Asian community.

He said ingredients in shisha tobacco, including colouring agents, made it unsuitable for chewing, and potentially dangerous.

“We take this issue very seriously,” he said.

“It does concern us and if we know which shops are selling this tobacco to children, we will sort it out.”