'2 in 3 girls under 10 have tried smoking'

Two in every three girls under 10 in London have tried cigarettes or have a regular smoking habit, according to a new survey.

Twice as many girls as boys under 10 in the capital admitted to being smokers in the survey conducted by the charity Cancer Research UK.

Experts described the results as "hugely worrying" and warned that youngsters who smoke could be damaging their lungs before they have left primary school.

Nicola Hawe, science information officer at Cancer Research, said: "These are astonishing figures and really very worrying.

"This survey should make people sit up and start doing something about these children who are beginning to experiment with cigarettes at such a young age.

"They have access to cigarettes, they are still saying that it is a cool thing to do, and they seem to be ignoring all the messages about the health risks of smoking."

Cancer Research conducted its survey of more than 600 children visiting the Tomorrow's World roadshow at Earls Court this week.