It's a frightening fact that half of 16-year-olds who smoke will eventually die as a result of their habit. But if you are the parent of a teenage smoker, what can you do to help them stop?

It's a shocking fact that around 80% per cent of smokers in the UK had their first cigarette before the age of 16.

And half of the 16-year-olds who currently smoke will eventually die as a result of their habit.

So if your child is a smoker, you just can't afford to ignore it - and if you want to help them quit, there's no better time..

"Young people often think they are indestructible," says Ben Youdan, chief executive of No Smoking Day. "But the truth is, they are very vulnerable to the detrimental health effects of smoking.

"They might think it's cool now, but in years to come they face a real risk of heart disease, lung cancer, amputation and other serious health problems."

And smoking is a big problem among young people. Among girls aged 11-15, 11% are smokers. For boys, it's 9%. Looking at 15-year-olds alone, 26% of girls and 21% of boys regularly light up.

"Most teenagers see it as an expression of freedom and of being grown up," says Youdan. "They have a very low perception of the risks, and think smoking-related diseases are for old men and women.

"If you ask them if they'll still be smoking at 30, the majority will say no."

But the chances are, they will. Smoking is addictive, and it's very hard to stop. So what can parents do?

If your child is smoking, arm yourself with the facts. Visit your local NHS Stop Smoking Service and get some leaflets. Then sit down and talk things through with your teenager.

"The worst thing is to nag teenagers," says Youdan. "At that age, telling them not to do something is almost an encouragement to do it.

"Of course, they need to know the health risks, but young people often respond better when you explain what smoking will do to their image and looks."

A young girl won't relish the idea of looking like a 40-year-old at 30. A boy won't welcome the news that he may become impotent.

It helps to talk about money too - smoking 10 cigarettes a day costs around £820 a year.

But however worried you are, don't come on all heavy handed. "You might find they already regret smoking, and want to give up," says Youdan.

Go along with your child to a Stop Smoking Service. Some schools even run stop smoking groups. And don't feel that if they are under 16 they shouldn't use nicotine gum and patches.

"As with anyone trying to give up smoking, the key is to be supportive rather than harassing."

And parents need to look at their own behaviour too - if you smoke, it's a huge factor in encouraging your kids to pick up the habit.