The health board covering Dumbarton and the Vale, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC), has backed a charter bidding to make Scotland tobacco free by 2034.

ASH Scotland’s Charter for a Tobacco-Free Generation was signed by NHSGGC director of public health and board member John Matthews OBE.

The charter is designed to further help drive down smoking rates, with smoking remaining the biggest single preventable cause of ill health and premature death in Scotland according to the health board.

Across Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 8.3% of children under the age of 30 months are reported to be exposed to second-hand smoke.

Babies and young children are more at risk of coughs, colds and chest infections if exposed to second-hand smoke in the home or car.

John Matthews OBE said: “Signing this charter today is important as it shows our continued commitment to reducing smoking and our determination to ensure that all children will grow up free from the harmful effects of tobacco.

“Our work already focuses on key charter principles and by signing the ASH Scotland charter we are committing the board to further sustained action to reduce tobacco-related harm by encouraging people not to start, supporting them to stop or protecting them from tobacco smoke.”