Doctors want smoking ban extended to cars

Medical leaders want to extend the smoking ban to cars after research found "compelling" evidence to support the move.

The British Medical Association says smoking inside a vehicle exposes drivers and passengers to 23 times more toxins than a smoky bar.

Children, the elderly and people with respiratory conditions are particularly vulnerable to the deadly affects of second-hand smoke in a restrictive environment.

Doctors say governments must be "bold" as smoking causes 80,000 deaths in England and six million worldwide every year.

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, from the BMA, said: "The current UK Government prefers voluntary measures or 'nudging' to bring about public health change but this stance has been shown to fail time and time again."