ONE in ten Exmouth smokers still believe passive smoking has little or no effect on a toddler s health.

ONE in ten Exmouth smokers still believe passive smoking has little or no effect on a toddler's health.

Smokefree South West, which was launched in March to lead work to tackle smoking also reveal that one in five still allow smoking inside their home.

These new figures come on the second anniversary of the introduction of Smokefree legislation.

The new YouGov survey also shows one in five car users still allow people to smoke in their car although over three quarters of people now think smoking should be banned in cars which are carrying children under 18.

More than one in ten are not concerned about young people starting to smoke despite the South West having one in three the highest proportion in the UK, of young people aged between 16 and 24 who smoke.

Dr Gabriel Scally, Regional Director of Public Health for the Region said: "Children in the South West who regularly breathe in second-hand smoke are more likely to develop health problems such as asthma, respiratory illnesses, glue ear, meningitis and there are also established links to cot death.