An urgent health warning has been issued about nicotine pouches which are causing children to collapse.
Parents and carers are being informed about an 'increasingly popular' new nicotine product that children can legally buy in person and online - without proof of age.
Nicotine pouches, which some suppliers market in colourful packaging similar to sweets to make them more appealing to consumers, have no limits on their strength.
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Rochdale Council said it makes the pouches extremely addictive, especially to young people who are more sensitive to their effects.
They are small pouches similar in shape to teabags containing nicotine, flavourings, sweeteners, and plant-based fibres. According to the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, they are available in flavours, similar to those of vapes including mango, berry and cherry ice.
The government is now seeking to bring in new laws to ensure young people can't get access to these products - but they are not yet in effect.
Currently there is no law in place that restricts the age of sale for nicotine pouches, so any child of any age can legally enter a shop and be sold these addictive products, meaning they are falling between regulatory gaps as they are not regulated as a specific tobacco or nicotine product.
Free samples are being given out in train stations, shopping centres and festivals in an effort to encourage people to try the product. People are also able order free sample packs online and have them delivered to their door without identification, the council said in a public warning.
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The Chartered Trading Standards Institute said the products are rising in popularity among school-aged children in the UK. The pouches can go undetected by teachers and parents, due to their discreet placement on the gum.
Deputy leader of Rochdale Borough Council and cabinet member for health, Councillor Daalat Ali, said: "It is very concerning to see how accessible this new product is, especially to our children and young people - in fact I find it quite scary how freely available it is.
"As we all know, nicotine can be highly addictive for young people, with evidence telling us their brain can be more sensitive to its addictive effects.
"Until new legislation is introduced to restrict its availability, I strongly urge all parents and carers to be mindful of these pouches and their effects, as they are not sweets by any means and they should be avoided."
Due to the strength of some products, there are some reports of children fainting after consumption. And, if addicted, young people can become dependent on the product.
The pouches, which are placed in between a person's lips and gums to release nicotine and flavours into the blood stream, have been used by some professional athletes because of unproven claims they have performance enhancing benefits.
The pouches are sometimes also referred to as Snus, although Snus is a tobacco product that is illegal in the UK.
Anyone who is worried about their child and any nicotine product, including vapes, cigarettes and shisha can get support from local school nurses.
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