A TOBACCONIST who is campaigning against high taxation on cigarettes has returned from a fact-finding mission to Belgium.

Jim Ingram, whose shop is in Tankerton, was one of a group of retailers that showed a party of MPs how they believe the high cost of tobacco is destroying corner shops by fuelling smuggling from the Continent, where cigarettes are cheaper.

Mr Ingram said the MPs seemed surprised at what they discovered when they walked around just one large establishment in the town of Adinkerke that sold cut-price cigarettes.

For instance 200 cigarettes at the Eastenders warehouse costs just £19. A pack of 200 from Mr Ingram's shop retails at £44.

The trip was organised by the Tobacco Alliance, which hopes the MPs will use the trip as ammunition to present to their colleagues.