Up to 20 children in Brighton and Hove are starting smoking every week.

The startling figure has been revealed by Cancer Research UK in the week the new school year starts.

The charity says 1,033 11- to 15-year-olds in the city take up the habit every year and says more action needs to be taken to discourage young people from starting in the first place. It is renewing its call for plain packaging to be used on all tobacco products, despite the Government's recent announcement it was putting the plans on hold.

Brighton and Hove director public health Tom Scanlon has backed the call to change cigarette packaging.

He said: “Each year in the UK 100,000 people die as a result of smoking and we know that around half of all smokers will die from a smoking related illness.

“So, tobacco companies need to recruit new addicts all the time, and it was disappointing that the proposed legislation on plain packaging was dropped when there is good evidence that it would help prevent young people from taking up the habit.”

Dr Scanlon said Brighton and Hove City Council and NHS had been working closely with schools for several years with programmes to help young people resist the pressure to smoke and support those who want to give up.

Over the last three years, the percentage of 11 to 14-year-old students in the city who have never tried a cigarette has increased from 80% to 85%.

Dr Scanlon said: “As well as the schools’ programme, the council's trading standards team works closely with local businesses with guidance and advice about fake IDs, and reminders about their responsibilities regarding selling age restricted products such as cigarettes.

“Cigarettes are going out of fashion, but it is a long haul and it is still the biggest single cause of preventable early death. If we want to turn that around for good, it will be by stopping young people from ever starting to smoke.”

Alison Cox, Cancer Research UK’s tobacco control lead, said: “Replacing slick, brightly coloured packs that appeal to children with standard packs displaying prominent health warnings, is a vital part of our efforts to help protect the health of our youngsters.

“Reducing the appeal of cigarettes with plain, standardised packs won’t stop everyone from smoking, but it will give millions of kids one less reason to start.”