FIVE children a week are starting smoking in South Lakeland, new research by the British Medical Association (BMA) suggests.

The doctors' trade union says around 207,000 children aged 11-15 begin smoking in the UK every year.

In Cumbria, 34 children take up the habit every week - and five of these will be from South Lakeland, the BMA says.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron called for ‘robust action from trading standards on the minority of shops that are selling cigarettes to children'.

“Many adults make the choice to smoke, and that is their decision, but this research shows that five young people a week in our area start smoking.

"We need to make sure that a small minority of shops are not selling cigarettes to children not even in their teens. Many shops take their responsibility seriously and we should praise their efforts. I’m calling for more action from trading standards to deal with the unscrupulous minority.”