Smoker Tom Shepherd, 26, a reporter at the Oxford Mail, said the 11p rise on a packet of 20 cigarettes would do little to make him give up.

He said: "I enjoy smoking and now I am of an age to support myself this price rise won't stop me.

"Ultimately I would like to give up but it will be fear of dying early that will make me do so, not price rises.

"Then again, if there was a much bigger rise, smokers would get round it by buying imported black market cigarettes.

"The price is too high though. It has gone up a lot even in my short life. When I first smoked, aged 12 or 13, a pack of 20 cost £3.20.

"Part of me wants to give up; part not."