FEWER people in Wales are smoking in their cars, according to a new Welsh Government report.

In November 2012, 78 per cent of adults across Wales with access to a car did not allow smoking in their main car, compared to 71 per cent in September 2011.

Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of secondhand smoke which is associated with a multitude of child health problems including sudden infant death, lower respiratory infection, middle ear disease, asthma and meningitis.

The report - Smoking in cars carrying children: Monitoring public attitudes' - found that around nine out of 10 respondents agreed that secondhand smoke can harm health, parental smoking can harm health, and parents should not smoke in front of their children.

While people think it should be their decision, most appear supportive, with 82 per cent agreeing that smoking should be banned in cars carrying children and 48 per cent agreeing that smoking should be banned completely in cars.

“It is clear from the report that a vast majority of adults are now aware of the dangers of secondhand smoke and the health hazards it can cause to children," said Dr Ruth Hussey, chief medical officer for Wales.

“It is encouraging to see that people have taken action themselves and there is an increase in the amount of people who do not allow smoking in their car.”

The Fresh Start Wales campaign, launched in February last year, aims to highlight the health hazards of secondhand smoke on children.