Vaping is big business in Blackburn. In 2008, it was the birthplace of one of the UK's biggest e-cigarette companies.
But at the beginning of the Championship season, Rovers had to defend their partnership with the vaping firm. The relationship had attracted criticism from MPs - which prompted a spokesperson for the side to state it has seen no evidence the sponsorship encourages children to vape..
Charlotte is a 37-year-old vaper who quit "real cigarettes" more than a decade ago. "It's like when people moan about the number of coffee shops or bookies," she said. Despite being considered a safer and cheaper option to more traditional smoking, E-cigarettes are clearly in the Government's sights .In his Budget speech in March, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt told the Commons he is to introduce a new tax on 'vapes' in a bid to discourage non-smokers from taking up the habit. In his fiscal speech, the UK would see 'the introduction of an excise duty on vaping products from October 2026'.
In Lancashire, on several occasions this year, schoolchildren have reportedly been taken ill after smoking contaminated e-cigarettes. Five teens became sick in January after smoking devices laced with dangerous Class B drugs, including amphetamine and THC.A spokesperson for police said: "We are warning parents of the dangers of unregulated vapes and liquids after a number of young people became ill.
John, a retired council worker, said he would rather Blackburn was the vaping capital of the UK "instead of the smoking capital". He said: "I don't vape but I used to smoke, a long time ago, and it seems bizarre to me that people who use e-cigs now seem to be vilified more than smokers!