THERE was a time - and perhaps there still is - when vaping was seen as a vital tool to wean smokers off their deadly habit.

But now there is a new problem which has arisen as vaping has become the new illicit habit being taken up by teenagers.

Investigations have found they are being bought by school students - even those still wearing their uniforms - with some sellers not even asking for proof of age.

Concerns have already been raised about the safety of vaping around youngsters.

Questions have been raised about the vapour from e-cigarettes which has chemicals in it.

And the fruit flavours in many vaping solutions are more palatable to children than original tobacco.

Vapers should be at least 18 years old to be able to buy the equipment.

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But one headteacher of a Colchester secondary school, who spoke to us anonymously, said: “Vaping among students is becoming more of a problem.

“It’s a very contemporary issue in society.

“We have tried our best to educate and inform both pupils and parents.

“We have invested time into giving assemblies and tutor time on the legality of underage vaping and the effects it has on your health.”

The headteacher said the school had even gone as far as to alter the science curriculum, teaching the health dangers of vaping to highlight the issue to pupils.

Public health charity Action on Smoking and Health found the most common way of accessing e-cigarettes among 11 to 17-year-olds was through shop purchase.

The study found 42 per cent bought e-cigarettes over the counter while 20 per cent of 11 to17-year-olds purchased the vapes and the juices online.

And while vaping is used as a tool in giving up smoking, the practice is not without risk.

Most of the devices allow a user 550 to 600 puffs of two per cent nicotine e-liquid, which equates to 40 to 50 cigarettes per vape.

A teenager the Gazette spoke to said he knew of fellow students as young as 15 who had been able to buy disposable vape pens.

The youngster, who is remaining anonymous, said some classmates in school uniform had been able to purchase vape pens at shops in the Colchester area and that proof of identity and age was not always asked for by the seller at the time of purchase.

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The headteacher confirmed there was a problem among youngsters, and added: “We have confiscated plenty of vapes off children.

“The student bulletin has identified a number of shops in town where vapes are cheap and easy to get, with no ID required.”

Hazel Cheeseman, deputy chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health, said: “Underage vaping is a cause of concern though it is unlikely to cause the damage that underage smoking does.

“At the same time, vapes have proven to be a way for hundreds of thousands of adults in this country to stop smoking.

“We need good enforcement of the laws.

“We must prevent the sale of vapes to under-18s, but current trading standards teams don’t always have the funding needed to do this.”