The ministers have announced a plan with an aim to halve the number of smokers in England over the next 10 years has been unveiled by ministers.

The recent figures reports that the number of people smoking has reduced by a quarter in the past decade to 21%, and the proposed target is 10% by 2020.

Health charity Ash said that while it supported the plans in principle, there was a need for more detail and stronger pledges.

The government strategy also includes a pledge to try to prevent young people taking up smoking by cracking down on illegally imported cheap cigarettes.

The plan cites the implementation of steps that include removing branding from packets and banning cigarette vending machines, on similar tracks as in Scotland next year.

However, smokers' lobby group Forest has extended their criticism against the proposals revealing that it will erode people's ability to make lifestyle choices.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham said: "We will always help people to quit, and smokers should never stop trying. That's the beauty of the NHS - it's there to help everyone.

The government said each year smoking caused 80,000 deaths and cost the NHS £2.7bn.