Buy discount Marlboro cigarettes online

CONCERNS have been raised about the availability of candy-style imitation cigarettes to children in Scarborough.

The sweets, which look remarkably like a hand-rolled cigarette and packaged in replica cigarette packets are now accessible in some shops in Scarborough.

A Scarborough couple have brought it to the attention of the Evening News after witnessing, what they thought, was a child smoking.

John Palethorpe, of Maria’s Court, said: "The child, was with his mother and he was about nine-years-old. She was smoking and he had one of these cigarettes pretending to smoke – emulating exactly what the mother was doing."

He said he and his wife, Sandra, realised that it was a sweet and were then alerted to the fact that this type of sweet was available in Scarborough shops.

He added: "It is an absolute disgrace. The packets look so much like an American or European cigarette packet. It is diabolical that these should be allowed to be sold to children."

North Yorkshire Trading Standards said it was not illegal to sell the products.

Derek Smith, consumer services section leader, said: "Sugar ‘cigarettes’ and novelty ’smokers sets’ made from chocolate or liquorice, were common place at one time.

"As the public became more aware of the dangers associated with smoking tobacco, coupled with the health promotions to prevent children taking up the habit, the demand for these types of products waned.

"Recently there has been a trend for buying so-called retro candy such as aniseed balls and spangles. It’s unfortunate that chocolate cigarettes have re surfaced but it’s not illegal to sell them and it’s really up to retailers to decide whether or not it’s a product with which they wish to be associated."

Mr Palethorpe said: "This type of sweet is just encouraging children to smoke. Both myself and Sandra smoke and we believe it be the worst thing in our lives that we have ever done. We try to cut down, but it is hard. And now we both suffer from illnesses that are smoking-related."