With pizza parlours and high street shops in America selling e-cigarettes , researchers have found that young girls are increasingly getting hooked to the sweet tasting e-cigs.

Markets are flooded with flavours such as bubble gum, strawberry milkshake, and gummy bears, and 11 and 12-year-olds have been buying them.

A report has found that girls as young as 11 have become hooked on e-cigarettes which are flavoured like children's sweets. The electronic devices, some producing vapour containing nicotine, are supposed to be an aid for adults to quit smoking, but are becoming popular with kids in the absence of regulations.

Experts fear the popular gadgets could be a 'gateway' to adult smoking. Doctors in the US believe youngsters exposed to e-cigs could face a life-long addiction to nicotine.

The researchers surveyed more than 1,100 girls in 34 secondary schools in Wrexham, North Wales and found that most girls could name five vapour flavours, while some did not know e-cigs might contain nicotine.

Kelly Evans, director of research and campaign group Social Change UK, questioned that if e-cigarettes are just a smoking aid for adults, why do they come in gummy bear flavour? However, the Electric Cigarette Industry Trade Association said the e-liquid flavours were due to 'demand.'

It is estimated 1.3 million in the UK use e-cigarettes. This week 129 doctors and specialists urged the World Health Organisation to impose stricter controls on e-cigarettes. It is expected that laws to prevent the sale of e-cigs to under-18s will be imposed by autumn this year.