Parents living in Glasgow's most deprived areas are being targeted in a drive to cut the risk of second-hand smoke to children.

The living room of a family home will be recreated in shopping centres and community venues in some of the city's poorest areas to highlight the dangers.

In Scotland, 6% of children under 12 are still exposed to smoke in the family home, which can linger for up to five hours after tobacco has been smoked.

However, local research shows the prevalence is significantly higher amongst children living in more deprived areas.

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Roadshows, aimed at warning parents about the risks, will be taking place in areas including Easterhouse, Parkhead and Possil this month.

Babies and children are particularly susceptible to second hand smoke and are more likely to suffer asthma and asthma, glue ear, accentuated risk of cot death, impaired lung function, bacterial meningitis and respiratory illnesses like bronchitis and pneumonia.

There are more than 4,000 chemicals contained in second hand smoke, which is made up of mainstream smoke, the smoke breathed in and out by the smoker; and side stream smoke which is the smoke from the tip of a burning cigarette and is the most harmful.

Many toxic gases are present in higher concentrations in side stream smoke and nearly 85% of the smoke in a room results from this. The smoke is invisible and the poisonous substances can linger for up to five hours after tobacco has been smoked inside.

Dr Linda de Caestecker, director of Public Health at NHSGGC, said: “Ten years on from the introduction of the smoking ban in public places attention is increasingly focusing on the damage caused to children and young people by second hand smoke.

“We want every child across Greater Glasgow and Clyde to have the best start in life and growing up in a smokefree environment is an important part of that.

“By taking the living room set around the board area we’re showing people the real damage that second hand smoking causes to children in a setting they can understand. We have successful smoking cessation groups and plenty of advertising campaigns, but this lets people see the effects in a home’s main room."

Smoking will be banned in cars carrying children from December in Scotland.

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From the 5 December, adults who light up in vehicles where there are children aged 18 years and under will be liable for a fixed penalty fine of £100.

The NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde roadshows will be at the Royal Hospital for Children on Tuesday October 4, Parkhead Forge on October 12, Possilpoint Community Centre on October 31, Tesco Silverburn on October 26 and various other locations including Easterhouse.