Help me kick cigarettes says Shropshire addict, aged nine

The unnamed youngster became addicted after trying one at school, where he wanted to "fit in" and look cool.

But the primary school pupil quickly wanted more and after realising the health effects, he called the Help2Quit service.

The helpline, which is run by Shropshire Community NHS Trust, is a free stop smoking service which says that you are "four times more likely to quit with our help than if you attempt to stop smoking on your own".

Experts are warning the under-age smokers will have terrible health problems in later life and that them turning for help from professionals to quit is a new phenomenon. Pat Thomas, service manager of Help2Quit, said: "We have trained and worked very closely with school nurses to support education for school-age children.

"When smoking is portrayed on television and in movies as cool and glamorous, it is tempting for the young and impressionable to copy their heroes.

"More young people start smoking every day and peer pressure from friends to comply with what is trendy is very high.

"The young want to fit in and be part of a group so will often do things they otherwise might not do.

"As you can become an addict within just a few weeks, the young person has no plan to be a lifelong smoker. He, or she, just wants to fit in."

Despite the Government's legal age for smoking being 18 years old, more than 200 children aged between 12 and 17 in the West Midlands have asked for support, according to Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust's Stop Smoking Service.

Carol Carter, clinical lead nurse for the service, said: "We offer a range of types of NRT, including chewing gum, patches, lozenges and inhalers.

"If the service is contacted by a child under the age of 12, we offer whatever behavioural support is appropriate. We are currently strengthening our partnership with schools to provide additional smoking cessation services in secondary schools.

"Most smokers will have started smoking around the ages of 11 to 13.

"The focus of tobacco control is on preventing people from starting to smoke. It has been shown that if smoking has not started by the age of 21, the likelihood of them smoking at all is significantly reduced.

"In the past year, 217 young people aged between 12 and 17 have accessed the Birmingham Stop Smoking service for help.

"Only two of these were aged 12 and, without support, one of them was able to successfully quit smoking."