KIDS should be banned from watching movies where stars are smoking, says the man who pioneered Scotland's public smoking ban.

KIDS should be banned from watching movies where stars are smoking, says the man who pioneered Scotland's public smoking ban.

MSP Kenny Gibson says under-18s should not be allowed into picture houses showing films with scenes where the actors have cigarettes in their hands.

He wants the Executive to approach Westminster about raising the classification to 18 of any film which shows people smoking.

The SNP member for Cunninghame North said he wanted to reduce the exposure of children viewing positive images of people smoking where it's seen to be glamorous, sexy or cool'.

The move ties in with Executive proposals to raise the minimum age at which tobacco can be bought from 16 to 18.

Mr Gibson, who as an MSP in 2001 introduced the Private Member's Bill which eventually led to Scotland's smoking ban, said: "Smoking on television has declined dramatically over the years and this could follow."

Despite taking on film-making giants, Mr Gibson was optimistic of eventual success.

He said: "Clearly most movies aren't made in the UK, let alone Scotland, so on a global scale this could be marginal but I would hope it would send a signal which would be repeated elsewhere in the UK and further afield."

The results of a consultation by the previous Executive revealed tobacco firms were backing a proposal to raise the age for buying tobacco to 18 and it is in First Minister Alex Salmond's plans.