THE Government’s move to introduce plain tobacco packaging has been welcomed by Azhar Ali, Lancashire County Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing.

County Councillor Ali said it would make cigarettes less appealing to children. He added: “Smoking is the biggest killer here in Lancashire.

“The shocking fact is that two-thirds of people start smoking under the age of 18, the legal age of sale, so we want to do all we can to help make it less appealing to young people.”