Research carried out by Barnsley Council has revealed Customs and Excise officers regard the region as a "hotspot" for the problem, mainly because it has a higher than average number of smokers.

Members of the authority's health and adult services scrutiny commission decided to investigate the prevalence of fake tobacco products earlier this year because of worries over their effect.

Experts suggest that contraband and counterfeit cigarettes are much more harmful than legitimate products, but it is estimated that at least 25 per cent of cigarettes smoked in South Yorkshire are smuggled.

The study found that cigarettes were mainly brought in through the Humber ports and most were manufactured in China. They were sold at car boot sales and in shops for much less than an ordinary packet.

In a report which accompanied the action plan, the scrutiny commission's chairman, Coun Janice Hancock, spoke of members' "surprise and concern" at the size of the problem in Barnsley and South Yorkshire as a whole.

She added: "While it is difficult to gauge the full extent of the trade it is clear that this trade is significant both nationally and locally and is described as an 'epidemic' by Customs and Excise officers.

"Similarly, there are difficulties in accurately differentiating between the proportion of illicit tobacco production which is counterfeit and which is contraband but still genuine.

"Again, information from Customs and Excise points to the great majority of contraband tobacco also being counterfeit, with the attendant additional health risks."

Scientific tests carried out by academics on counterfeit cigarettes seized at ports have shown that they have a much higher level of toxic additives than the genuine article. It has been found that high levels of lead accumulate in the body of someone who regularly smokes counterfeit tobacco products, and each cigarette has on average 160 per cent more tar.

Department of Health figures show smoking prevalence is 28.2 per cent in Barnsley compared to 25 per cent nationally. This has sparked concerns that South Yorkshire's deprived communities are buying more counterfeit products because they are cheaper.

Coun Hancock's report added: "There are alarming implications of the smoking prevalence for the people of Barnsley. Even more alarming are the health effects of smoking counterfeit products.

"Associated levels of arsenic, lead, tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide are a lethal cocktail and these levels of toxicity present serious dangers to both smokers and 'passive' victims.

"In this context, the commission does not wish to inadvertently condone the smoking of genuine tobacco products as a lesser problem. Both are extremely problematic with smoking as the major contributor to ill-health".

The commission's 13 recommendations cover both genuine and illicit tobacco problems and include a call on enforcement agencies, including the police, to heighten action against known dealers.

A scheme to encourage people to report shops and car boot sales where illicit products are on sale is also in the pipeline as well as advice on smoking which will be given out in schools. The commission will present its findings and recommendations to a meeting of Barnsley Council next Wednesday.