CAMPAIGNERS have welcomed new rules aimed at cutting smoking voted for by the European Parliament.

The revised EU Tobacco Products Directive will lead to larger and more graphic health warnings on cigarettes.

Flavoured cigarettes will eventually be banned, while e-cigarettes will be regulated for the first time.

Ailsa Rutter, director of anti-smoking North-East campaign group Fresh, welcomed the directive, saying it was a massive opportunity to reduce the harm of smoking.

She added: “It is vital now that the UK Government introduces standardised packaging, reducing the appeal of glossy packs to children and ending the myth some cigarettes are healthier than others.”

However, the regulations on e-cigarettes were criticised by some politicians.

The new rules could result in a ban of refillable e-cigarettes for all EU countries - if just three member states vote to outlaw their sale.

Stronger so-called vapers will also face restrictions as part of the changes, despite claims that they help smokers to quit standard cigarettes.

Speaking after Wednesday's vote, which is expected to become law by 2016, North-East Tory MEP Martin Callanan said: “The majority of the Tobacco Products Directive is on the zealous end of the scale but we could have accepted it.

“However, what we could not accept is the draconian restrictions on e-cigs that were adopted. I believe we have completely failed to deliver the aim of discouraging smoking.”

North-East Lib Dem MEP Fiona Hall, who voted in favour of the legislation, admitted the outcome of the vote was not everything that e-cig users had wanted.

However, she added: “It's a tremendous improvement compared to the original proposals.

“E-cigs won't come under medicinal regulation and the nicotine limit is five times higher than was originally proposed."