A publicity campaign is warning that smuggled cigarettes could encourage North-East children to take up smoking.

The North-East Alliance Against Tobacco plans to highlight the danger of youngsters starting to smoke after buying cheap cigarettes brought in from abroad.

It will use hard-hitting leaflets, advertisements on buses and Metro trains and in public places and will be pushing its messages on No Smoking Day tomorrow.

It says about 16 billion cigarettes are brought into the UK illegally each year and many are smoked by children.

The region's director of public health, Dr Bill Kirkup, said: "It's a shocking fact that about 450 children start smoking every day in Great Britain.

"Young people say they have no difficulty obtaining cigarettes, regardless of their age. Often, they buy cheap tobacco from strangers and this is a matter of particular concern.

"Younger smokers may think they can quit easily but they quickly become addicted. They can develop health problems such as lung disease, heart and circulatory problems even in the short term. In the long term, smokers run a much greater risk of premature death and disability.

"We want to make it clear to anyone involved with cheap, illegally imported cigarettes that they are damaging children and young people.''

The campaign complements efforts by Customs and Excise to stop the import of cigarettes on which duty is not being paid to the Government.

Regional spokesman Robin Hastings-Trew said: "The level of cigarette seizures in the North-East indicates that the region is targeted by the organised criminal gangs."

The campaign was launched at the Diggerland theme park, Langley Park, Durham, when a million smuggled cigarettes were destroyed.

* People can inform on smugglers by calling the Customs 24-hour hotline on 0800 59 5000.