An identity card scheme aimed at stamping out under-age smoking was today heading for Castle Point.

The initiative, which was successfully piloted in Basildon, involves supplying every 16-year-old and over in full-time education in the borough with a free photo ID card to prove their age.

If anyone younger tries to buy cigarettes or other age-restricted items such as fireworks, the shopkeeper will be encouraged to ask for the card. No card, no sale.

At a presentation yesterday, Castle Point councillors heard that more than one in ten 13-year-old girls smoke, 33 per cent of all girls aged 15 smoke and of all children aged 11 to 15, around 13 per cent take up the deadly habit.

Statistics also show that around one third of retailers sell age-restricted products to under 16s.

Jane Bray, head of product safety at the county's trading standards department, said: "We knew it was a problem for retailers and we went down the advice route but the complaints about underage sales were increasing.

"We appreciated the difficulty traders had with identifying those under 16 who asked for lottery tickets, videos, fireworks and other age-restricted products."

The proof of age scheme was piloted in Basildon - the area with the highest number of complaints about underage selling - and has proved to be a resounding success with around 75 per cent of shopkeepers asking for the card.

Six weeks before the launch, every retailer selling age-restricted products was visited by a trading standards officer to explain the scheme and they also received a mailshot.

After the launch, test purchases using youngsters were carried out and every shopkeeper who asked for the card was given a congratulatory letter. Each one that did not was given a stern reminder.

Adrienne Knight, principal trading standards officer, explained: "Everyone benefits. The retailers needed something credible to rely on when proving the age of the young person in front of them.

"Young people also benefit because young-looking 16-year-olds can legitimately buy items they are entitled to, such as lottery tickets.

"It has also helped us enormously because we can target our resources more efficiently and effectively."

The scheme would cost just under £5,000 to start up and would target the 1,400 children in years 11, 12 and 13 in the borough. Half would be funded by Essex County Council and Castle Point would foot the rest of the bill.

Estimated annual running costs would be around £1,000 - half funded by county - as new year 11 pupils take up the scheme.

Yesterday's community safety sub-committee recommended that the matter go straight to the finance and policy meeting for funding to be allocated.

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