A cabinet meeting of the Redbridge Council in east London voted unanimously to prevent children being placed with foster carers who smoke after January 2010.

It marks a tightening of the policy adopted by other local authorities, which forbids smokers from adopting children under five.
Councillors said the move was essential to protect children from the harmful effects of passive smoking. However, concerns have been raised that the ban could reduce the number of loving foster homes available to vulnerable children.
Other councils, such as Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire in Scotland, are also pushing ahead with plans to ban smokers from fostering or adopting babies and young children. (pi)