THE minimum age for buying cigarettes should be raised to 18, according to the MPs for Selby and York.

John Grogan and Hugh Bayley said the Government should consider changing the lowest age for buying tobacco from 16.

Making it harder for young people to get their hands on cigarettes will deter them from starting smoking, which can lead to fatal diseases including cancer, said the politicians.

Selby MP Mr Grogan and York MP Mr Bayley have backed a parliamentary campaign to get the Government to discuss the possibility of putting tobacco on the same footing as alcohol.

They have signed a Commons motion, which has already won cross-party support from 23 MPs, calling to raise the age limit as part of a massive consultation on public health.

Mr Grogan said: "Cigarette smoking causes thousands and thousands of deaths each year.

"I think there is a strong case for increasing the legal age of sale to 18, which would draw parity with alcohol.

"It would also mean that young people had the advantage of being slightly more mature before deciding whether to start spending their cash on cigarettes."

Last month, a Government-commissioned report revealed the shocking statistic that almost one in three of all deaths among over-35s in parts of North Yorkshire was caused by smoking.

Meanwhile, North Yorkshire County Council's trading standards officers are gearing up for a major crackdown on underage sales of alcohol in the run-up to Christmas.

Police forces across the region and country announced yesterday that they would be concentrating efforts on combating loutish drunken behaviour.

A similar campaign ran in the summer, revealed a national statistic of 32 per cent of licensed premises suspected of selling alcohol to underage customers. Trading standards officers will work with young volunteers to target premises across the county suspected of flouting the laws relating to sales of alcohol.

Traders who flout the law could face legal action, including a fine of up to £1,000 and loss of licence.

Consumers who think products are being sold under the legal age limit or any traders who want advice on age-restricted products can phone trading standards on 0845 330 3313.

Updated: 09:31 Saturday, December 18, 2004