A headteacher has said the vape “epidemic” in the country needs to be tackled at source ahead of a pledged crackdown by government.

Caroline Barlow, headteacher at Heathfield Community College, said young people vaping is a “societal issue” which ends up on the doorstep of schools.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4 this morning, Ms Barlow said: “Schools have to manage something that, at source, we have not tackled for young people.”

It comes as government ministers have pledged to close a loophole which allows retailers to give free samples of vapes to children in England.

Ms Barlow said the problem becomes schools’ responsibility to solve as the use of vapes "sets children up for addiction that affects their physiology during the school day".

She said the addiction is affecting pupils’ ability to concentrate and make progress.

There have been growing concerns over the proportion of children trying e-cigarettes across the country.

The government said there will be a review into banning retailers selling “nicotine-free” vapes to under-18s.

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There will also be a review of the rules on issuing fines to shops that illegally sell vapes to children, which the government said could make it easier for local Trading Standards officials to issue on-the-spot fines and fixed penalty notices.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty called the decision to close the loophole a “very welcome step”.

“While vaping can be an effective quitting tool for smokers it is important that non-smokers are not encouraged to start vaping,” he said.

Health minister Neil O’Brien said any marketing of vaping products to children was “shameful”.

He said the government would “review the rules on issuing on-the-spot fines to shops that break the law by selling vapes to under-age youngsters and look into banning the sale of nicotine-free vapes to under-18s – which we know can be a gateway to using nicotine products”.

Wes Streeting, Labour’s shadow health secretary, called the announcement a “baby step”.

“We have to act now to stop a new generation of kids getting hooked on nicotine,” the Labour MP said.