THE harmful effects of smoking near children and the risk of cigarette fires in the home were highlighted in Taunton.

Shoppers and smokers visiting Morrisons received free health checks and advice about how second-hand smoke harms youngsters from advisors with the Somerset Smokefree Homes and Cars campaign.

And firefighters stressed the importance of home smoke alarms, as carelessly discarded cigarettes or smoking in bed cause hundreds of fires each year.

Smokefree Families adviser Tracey Hellyar said: “It was great to see so many smokers coming forward for their free health check.

“Giving up smoking altogether is never easy, but the next best thing parents can do is make sure they never smoke in confined spaces where concentrated smoke can cause so much damage to young hearts and lungs.

“As parents you can choose whether you smoke or not, but children do not have that choice.”