Anti-smoking campaigners have welcomed proposals to ban logos on cigarette packets.

Plain packaging and a ban on advertising cigarette papers are among tougher measures being considered by the Department of Health.

A ban on vending machines and moves to remove tobacco products from public display are also possible.

And the Government announced measures including minimum pack sizes of 20 to stop young people who can only afford packs of 10 from buying cigarettes.

Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said: "Protecting children from smoking is a Government priority and taking away temptation is one way to do this.

"If banning brightly-coloured packets, removing cigarettes from display and removing the cheap option of a pack of ten helps save lives, then that is what we should do, but we want to hear everyone's views first."

Research has found children and young people are more receptive to tobacco advertising than adults, and displays at point of sale have become one of the few remaining means of promotion.

Evidence suggested such advertising could persuade existing smokers to keep pugging and encouraging young people to start.

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, head of science and ethics at the British Medical Association, said: "It is essential that cigarettes are made more inaccessible to children and one way to do this is to ban 10 packs of cigarettes and to get rid of tobacco vending machines."

Action on Smoking and Health director Deborah Arnott said: "Smoking is a habit which is passed down from generation to generation and this pattern can only be broken by fresh thinking and a comprehensive cross-government strategy."

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