Nicotine patches for teenagers

Teenage smokers are to be given free nicotine patches to tackle under-age smoking.

They will be offered the medication through schools and youth groups, and be trained to help each other quit, as part of a pilot scheme in Scotland.

If successful, it could be copied in England - although some doctors fear nicotine patches, gum and tablets may not be suitable for under-18s.

A ?180,000 Lottery grant is funding the project in Lanarkshire, which has one of the highest smoking-related death rates in Britain. Children as young as 14 will be able to refer classmates to adult antismoking co-ordinators.

Tom Bryce, the general manager of Airdrie Local Health Care Co-operative, told today's Daily Telegraph: "At the heart of the project will be other teenagers helping the youngsters through their addiction."