AN MP who has campaigned to ban smoking in cars with children says it will be become law by next October.

Alex Cunningham, MP for Stockton North, has run a three year campaign for the ban and won the overwhelming backing of MPs last February.

He has now been told that further votes will take place in both the House of Commons and House of Lords and if MPs once again vote the ban, as expected, it will become law on October 1, 2015.

A YouGov poll for the anti-smoking group ASH found that nearly two thirds of smokers agreed with the ban. Smokers caught smoking in cars with under-18s will be fined £50 if caught.

Mr Cunningham said there was evidence that 430,000 children travel in cars with smokers at least once a week.

He said: “It is a bit of a cliche, but lives are at stake and I am pleased this needs to become law as soon as possible. I have been assured by a Government minister this is going to happen."

The MP, who said he has only ever smoked one cigarette in his life when he was about 15, is also campaigning for cigarette and tobacco products to have plain packaging. He is hoping legislation will be introduced by the end of the current parliament in May.