HM Revenue and Customs failing to clamp down on tobacco smuggling

HM Revenue and Customs has failed to meet any of its targets on reducing the smuggling of illicit tobacco into the UK, a Whitehall watchdog has said.

The National Audit Office said HMRC's latest strategy, launched in 2011, had so far prevented losses of £328m - less than two-thirds of the total projected.

And its target of saving £1.4bn over four years now appeared "unachievable".

HMRC said it was committed to tackling tobacco smuggling and had invested an extra £25m from 2010 to 2015.

Angus Crawford reports.