AN East Lancashire Euro MP claims that gory illustrations of the diseases caused by smoking could be put on to cigarette packets within the next year.

Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies said he is pressing for a meeting with Health Secretary Alan Milburn to see if the graphic pictures introduced on packets in Canada a year ago could be brought in over here.

Research showed after the Canadian introduction, 44 per cent of Canadian smokers thought seeing the images had increased their motivation to give up the habit.

"My critics said that they wouldn't work and there certainly would be no point following the Canadian example if that was the case. But the evidence we have now suggests that the illustrations are having a major influence," he said.

"The British government has indicated that it is sympathetic to the idea and together with Labour and Conservative colleagues I now intend to press the case."

Clive Bates, director of the anti-smoking campaign group ASH, said: "If these warnings prompt people to stop and think again, then they will save thousands of lives in the long term.

"It's all about cutting through the denial and getting smokers to confront the desperate reality of cancer, heart disease and emphysema head on."