Do you know a secret smoker?

One in ten people are "secret smokers" and do not tell loved ones about their habit, a poll has found.

Smokers are more likely to lie to their parents, the survey said, with over half keeping their habit secret from mum and dad.

And over a third let their wider family believe they have never smoked or have given up while they sneak away for a crafty fag.

Perhaps more worrying is the 30 per cent of secret smokers who lie to their own doctor about their habit.

Angela Chalmers, a pharmacist at Boots, which commissioned the research, said: "Not many people realise that those one or two crafty cigarettes a day can still cause long-term damage to your health."

Ruth Bosworth, director of services at Quit, a charity that runs a smoking helpline, said: "In July this year, the whole of the UK will become smoke-free and this will be an excellent opportunity for secret smokers to stop smoking for good."

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