Smoking to be banned in private cars?

Smoking should be banned in cars carrying children, according to a government public health lobby.

The idea is part of the UK Public Health Faculty's 12 point manifesto to improve wellbeing in Britain, which also includes plans for a 25 percent increase in cycle lanes by 2015.

Similar smoking bans are already law in some US states and Cyprus, where they have proved controversial, and are being considered in South Africa and the Netherlands. Research by the California Environmental Protection Agency found that exposure to cigarette smoke particles in a closed car is equivalent to the exposure of fighting a wildfire for five hours.