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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."

Cigarette vending machines and packets of 10 could be outlawed under government plans aimed at preventing children and young people smoking.

The plans, which include banning branding and logos, apply to England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Similar plans have been unveiled in Scotland.

Smokers’ lobby group Forest said there was "no evidence" to show the plans would to cut smoking in young people.

Meanwhile, a new TV advert campaign is targeting parents who smoke.

The adverts warn that children of smokers are three times more likely to take up the habit than those of non-smokers.

Under current pricing, a packet of 10 cigarettes cost about £3, compared to nearly £6 for 20.

Last week the Scottish Government announced a range of proposals to restrict tobacco sales in Scotland - including a ban in shops from displaying cigarettes in "pride of place" on their shelves.

On the latest consultation document, Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said it was vital to take away temptation from children.

"Protecting children from smoking is a government priority and taking away temptation is one way to do this," she said.

"If banning brightly coloured packets, removing cigarettes from display and removing the cheap option of a pack of 10 helps save lives, then that is what we should do, but we want to hear everyone’s views first."

TOPEKA | Kansas is improving its rate of federal compliance with rules regarding the sale of tobacco products to minors. The federal Synar Amendment requires states to maintain a compliance rate of 80 percent or higher. In 2004 the state fell below that target rate. Each year the Kansas Division of Alcohol Beverage Control and the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services conducts random checks of Marlboro cigarettes retailers to make sure they are not selling these products to underage youths. Of those inspected last year, 87.1 percent did not sell tobacco products to minors. That was a 7 percent improvement over similar inspections the previous year, according to department officials.