Happy No-Smoking day, Mum-will you quit for me?

Almost half of children whose mums smoke have asked them to quit, a survey says.

A poll of 500 mums who smoke also found the majority of them felt guilty about spending money on cigarettes instead of their children.

And almost all the women questioned said they were worried about the harmful effects their smoking will have on their little ones' health.

Women who smoke are prone to the same risks to their heart and lung health as men, but also face an increased chance of cervical cancer, reproductive health problems and osteoporosis.

Ruth Bosworth, of Quit, an independent stop smoking charity, says, 'This research demonstrates that women are unintentionally putting their nicotine addiction ahead of the health of their children.

'Smokers are sacrificing their own health and, in the case of mums, the health of their children as well.'

The www.tickbox.net survey was launched to mark No Smoking Day.