CHILDREN as young as four are being targeted by an anti-smoking campaign in east Manchester.

The move comes after a shock report found that one in three teenage smokers in Tameside picked up the habit before they left primary school.

Pupils are being taught the dangers of tobacco as soon as they enter school as part of new Personal, Social and Health Education lessons.

And for the first time youngsters are being targeted by a poster campaign designed by their peers.

The posters will appear in schools next term. Louise Roberts, at Stop Smoking Campaign, said: "We want to catch them at five and six years old because that's when some of them are trying their first cigarette.

"Any child that comes to us at any age can have help, from one-on-one mentoring to group sessions to help them give up."