The Retailers Against Smuggling trade group - which represents 16,000 independent retailers UK-wide and is part of the Tobacco Alliance - reckons freezing or reducing the duty on tobacco would solve the problem.

It's calling on the Government to reduce tax on tobacco in the next Budget.

Spokesman Ken Patel said:

"How are we expected to compete with the smugglers when they can offer cigarettes for half the price that we can?

"What the Government needs to grasp is that the only reason smugglers target the UK is because the high tax levels in this country provide them with the greatest potential profit in the EU.�