Number of children vaping spikes 50% in a year

Anti-smoking campaigners are calling for tigher regulation of vapes

Flavoured vapes are advertised to teenagers on social media

(Getty)

The number of children trying vaping has risen by 50 per cent, according to a new study.

Data for Great Britain shows a rise in experimental vaping among 11- to 17-year-olds, from 7.7 per cent last year to 11.6 per cent this year.

While it is illegal to sell vapes to people under the age of 18, social media shows posts from teenagers with vapes and discussing flavours such as pink lemonade, strawberry, banana and mango.