Doctors have called for a ban on smoking in all vehicles after a report into the effects of passive smoking on children.
A study by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) found more than 20,000 chest infections, 120,000 bouts of middle ear disease and 200 cases of meningitis in youngsters are also thought to be linked to the effects of second-hand smoke.
And 40 babies die from sudden infant death syndrome every year caused by passive smoking - one in five of all cot deaths.
The RCP is also calling for increases in the real price of tobacco, measures to tackle tobacco smuggling and illegal trading, and investment in media campaigns targeted at young people. Cigarettes should also be taken off display in shops while packaging should be made generic and standardised, doctors said.
Other measures include cutting down exposure to images of people smoking in the media - with films and television programmes which show gratuitous smoking classified as adult viewing - and stiff penalties for those who sell cigarettes to underage youngsters.
Simon Clark, director of the smokers' lobby group Forest, said: "Smoking in outdoor areas poses little or no threat to anyone's health. Banning smoking in parks and other areas where children congregate would be a gross over-reaction. We wouldn't encourage people to smoke around children but adults should be allowed to use their common sense and act accordingly."
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