Councils across England have said more needs to be done to stop children vaping over fears of the potential health impacts on children and teenagers.

Recent figures have shown the number of under-18s trying out vaping has risen by 50 per cent in the past year and the Local Government Association (LGA) is calling on the Government to review its policy on certain types of e-cigarettes.

The LGA raised particular concern about the impacts of vaping on young people's health and is worried more children are starting to vape having never smoked before.

The organisation said it wasn't "anti-vape" but believed more needed to be done to stop children using them.

Mike Sandys director of public health for Leicestershire County Council said he shared the LGA's concern but stressed vapes can be a force for good too.

He said: "The first thing to say is vapes can be a really good smoking cessation tool, if you are a smoker, switch to vapes because it is a really good tool to help you quit.

"But if you don't smoke, why would you want to vape is the biggest question?

"There are risks in vaping, they contain nicotine, an addictive drug and which could lead down a route of starting to smoke.

"They also contain a number of chemicals which aren't good for you, and vaping has been associated with a small number of health problems, such as inflation of the chest. Data from last year has shown 350 people were hospitalised nationally from vape-related incidents, such as the over-inflation of the lungs."

The LGA also raised further concern about the way vapes are marketed, as companies use "designs and flavours that could appeal to children", such as "fruity and bubble gum flavours and colourful child-friendly packaging". Mike Sandys echoed this message and added: "In terms of children, there is a concern about the marketing of the products. Bright colours, sweet-flavoured vapes which seem targeted at children and therefore attracting them into using the products.

"It almost seems to be like a reverse gateway drug. If you are smoker vapes are an excellent gateway out of smoking, but you don't want vapes allegedly targeted on children to then be a gateway into smoking at the end." While it is illegal to sell vapes to people under 18, a legal loophole has allowed the vape industry to give free samples to children. This is because the products are not covered by the tobacco advertising rules prohibiting free distribution, as they are not considered a tobacco product.

But in May the Government announced it was going to close this loophole and crack down on the selling of 'nicotine free' vapes to under-18s. It is also set to review the rules on issuing fines to shops selling vapes to under-18s illegally, allowing Trading Standards to issue on-the-spot fines more easily. Harborough MP Neil O'Brien has played a large role in this review in his role as health minister. He said in May: "The shameful marketing of vaping products to children is leading to growing numbers trying e-cigarettes.

"Today we are therefore ramping up our efforts to stop kids getting hooked on vaping, including taking steps to crack down on companies handing out free vape samples to under-18s and adding lessons on the health risks of vaping within the curriculum for the first time. We will also review the rules on issuing on-the-spot fines to shops that break the law by selling vapes to underage children, and look into banning the sale of nicotine-free vapes to under 18s, which we know can be a gateway to using nicotine products."