I SMOKED AFTER SEEING MY MUM LIGHT UP

Ex-England star James urges parents to ditch cigs for kids

- MARTIN BAGOT

FORMER England goalkeeper David James has spoken out about taking up smoking at the age of just 15 after seeing his mum puff away after mealtimes.

The ex-Liverpool player opened up about how the habit affected his fitness in a hard-hitting NHS video campaign, highlighting how parents who smoke influence their kids to do the same.

New research by Imperial College London reveals that teenagers are three times more likely to smoke if parents, caregivers or close friends do.

James, 53, said: "When I was a child it was common for my mum to smoke at the dinner table - smoking was part of life. Though I was anti-smoking, one cigarette got me addicted for 15 years.

"My mum smoked, my friends smoked, it was around me. It didn't take long for me to be hooked.