A council has become the first in London to rule that smokers will no longer be able to foster children.
Redbridge Council's cabinet agreed Tuesday night to a ban on placing children with foster carers who smoke unless there are exceptional circumstances.
The local authority in northeast London said the decision, which will come into force in 2010, was made to protect children from the "damaging effects of passive and second-hand smoke."
Tobacco lobby groups said the move was part of an "ongoing campaign to stigmatize smokers."
