A patch is one of six available forms of NRT

Health Minister Jane Kennedy announced the move across England as part of a relaxation on limits on the use of NRT.

The treatments are now also being recommended for use by pregnant or breastfeeding women, and patients with heart, liver and kidney disease.

Experts said it was important to encourage these groups to give up smoking as quickly as possible.

Access to NRT should encourage young people to use it to give up smoking, so significantly increasing their chances of quitting Deborah Arnott

Side-effects of NRT can include nausea, headache and dizziness - but the same effects can be caused by smoking.

The Committee on Safety of Medicines was impressed by the results of a pilot scheme in north east England, which provided NRT to school age teenagers.

Ms Kennedy said: "We currently have the lowest smoking rates on record in England, but it is still the greatest single cause of death and preventable illness.

"Today's move targets new patient populations that are especially vulnerable to the effects of smoking and will give them the confidence they need to use NRT effectively."

Tough target

It is estimated that one in 10 girls and one in 14 boys aged between 11 and 15 smoke regularly.

The government is committed to reducing the number of smokers by two million by the year 2010.

However, critics say efforts could be undermined by allowing pubs which do not serve food to opt out of a ban on smoking in public places.

NRT has recently been approved for use by smokers who are gradually trying to wean themselves off nicotine, rather than trying to give up smoking overnight.

The Department of Health is also working with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the industry on widening the availability of NRT.

Measures include encouraging distribution to a larger range of retail outlets such as garage forecourt shops and newsagents.

Jeremy Mean from the MHRA, said it was particularly important that young people were helped to quit smoking if they had taken up the habit.

He said: "Young people, if they are hooked when they are a teenager, are three times more likely to smoke for the rest of their life."

Deborah Arnott, director of the charity Action on Smoking and Health, said: "Smoking kills half of all smokers long-term.

"Previously many young people who were able to buy cigarettes were prevented from using NRT to help them quit. It just didn't make sense.

"Access to NRT should encourage young people to use it to give up smoking, so significantly increasing their chances of quitting."

There are currently six NRT products available in the UK. They include gum, a patch, a nasal spray, and a tablet.