PARENTS in the region are being urged to help keep illegal tobacco off the streets this summer, with dealers likely to be looking for teenage customers over the holidays.

Parents who know where illegal cigarettes and tobacco are being sold in local tab houses and other locations can call Crimestoppers in complete anonymity.

The appeal for information comes after Fresh has worked successfully with local councils to reduce the size of the illegal tobacco market in the North-East since 2009.

Ailsa Rutter, director of Fresh, said: "During the school holidays, children will be out and about with friends and we need to ensure illegal tobacco sellers aren't able to turn this into a business opportunity.

"There's also likely to be more duty free tobacco in circulation and we need to ensure children don't end up as the customers.

"All smoking kills, but illegal tobacco is an easy source of tobacco to get children hooked on an addiction that kills half of all smokers. We need continued pressure on the sellers to stop them getting kids hooked and destroying people's health."

In 2009, Fresh helped set up the North of England Tackling Illicit Tobacco for Better Health programme covering the North East and North West, working with every local authority, HMRC, police, trading standards and the NHS. Despite claims by the tobacco industry, the independent North-East Illicit Tobacco Survey in 2013 shows the illegal tobacco market has decreased in recent years.

Anyone who knows where illegal tobacco is being sold can pass on information in complete anonymity by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or click on crimestoppers-uk.org