Staffordshire schoolboy's petition to ban flavoured vapes

Barney (right), who is helping Walter says vaping is becoming more common among children as prices fall

An 11-year-old boy has launched a petition in a hope to ban all flavoured vapes.

Walter, who attends St Dominic's Priory School in Stone, believes children are being targeted due to flavours such as Haribo and Cola.

There has been a rise in the proportion of 11 to 17-year-olds trying vapes, despite it being illegal to sell them to under 18s.

Walter said he was shocked when he became aware of the dangers of vaping.

"I decided to make the petition as it will save a lot of lives," he said.

"They're trying to get people on to vaping and I think that is very wrong as nobody knows how bad it can be."

He particularly highlighted the use of flavoured vapes, which he said were targeting young people.

Conservative MP for South Staffordshire Sir Gavin Williamson said he would be taking up the concerns with ministers.

The government is currently considering a ban on disposable vapes.

Experts are agreed that vapes are considerably less dangerous than cigarettes. However, little is known about their long-term effects.

Illegal vapes, which can appeal to young people due to being cheap, have been found to contain harmful chemicals - not present in their legal counterparts.

Some gathered by Baxter College, in Kidderminster, were tested and found to contain high levels of lead, nickel and chromium. High lead exposure in children can affect the central nervous system and brain development.

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Last month, almost 1,400 illegal vapes were seized during raids in Staffordshire.

Barney, 15 and Rose, 13, who are helping Walter with the petition, said they were constantly seeing their peers vaping.

Barney said as the vapes were getting cheaper, they were becoming more accessible.

"It's getting into the hands of younger children and we don't know a lot about the health effect," he said.

Rose added: "I'm really glad Walter has started this petition as it could make such a difference."