Hull health bosses advise on vapes as city records highest smoking rate in the country
Bosses say vaping can help many come off cigarettes
Health bosses in Hull say vapes still have an important role to play in helping people quit smoking as the latest figures show the city has the highest rate of smokers in the whole of England
22% of people in the area smoke - compared to the national average of 13%.
It comes despite many doctors urging the Government to ban disposable vapes.
Matt Greensmith is the public health consultant at Hull city council, we spoke to him about the issue.
We do not support the marketing of vapes to children
He said: "The real key message here is if you don't vape don't start vaping but if you smoke consider using vapes to stop smoking."
"Under no circumstances should we support the marketing of disposable vapes to children."
"It's important to recognise that vaping is less harmful than tobacco."
"Many people who smoke tobacco successfully quit smoking tobacco through using vapes."
"Vapes have a place for people who want to stop smoking."
We recognise that vapes can help some people stop smoking
"We're really keen to do what we can to support our tobacco enforcement teams in that work and we'd like to see strong regulatory action taken to clamp down on the visibility of marketing to children."
"We recognise that vapes have a place for people who smoke to help them stop smoking but we're clear on the sale and the marketing of them being inappropriate to children and young people."