BOSSES at Glasgow Science Centre have backed new legislation which bans smoking in cars carrying children.

City company Turner Hire Drive is also supporting the Scottish Government's awareness campaign ahead of the introduction of the new rules on Monday.

The campaign, which will appear on TV and radio, highlights both the harms and the penalty in a bid to encourage drivers and passengers to comply.

Research shows 86% of people in Scotland have expressed support for the move which will make it illegal to smoke in any vehicle carrying children under the age of 18. Drivers who flout the ban will be hit with a penalty of £100.

Public health and sport Minister Aileen Campbell said: "The government is committed to protecting children from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.

"Our target to reduce the proportion of children exposed in the home from 12 percent to six percent by 2020 has been met five years early.

"The ban on smoking in cars will help to build on that success by reinforcing the message that the toxic fumes from cigarette smoke are harmful, particularly in children."

Dr Robin Hoyle, director of science at Glasgow Science Centre, said the visitor attraction was 100 % behind the new legislation.

He added: "We have been actively promoting the ban to our customers ahead of its introduction.

"We all know how important it is to protect children from second-hand smoke. The health implications are well documented and the ban marks an important step in further reducing child exposure, particularly in car environments."

Experts say second hand smoke can put children at risk of serious conditions such as bronchitis, pneumonia and asthma.

Gordon Kedslie, marketing manager at car and van hire company Turner Hire Drive, said: "We are fully supportive of the Government's new smoking in cars legislation and are making our customers aware of it by putting campaign stickers on our hire cars and vans.

"It is important people understand the risks around passive smoking in vehicles so introducing this ban will hopefully make everyone in Scotland more aware of how dangerous it is."

Studies have shown the average toxic particle levels breathed in during a smoking car journey are more than 10 times higher than the average levels found in the air in Edinburgh.