Shop owners in Medway are urging the government to scrap plans for plain packaging on cigarettes to stop counterfeit packets being sold.

It comes after the government failed to announce new laws to curb smoking.

MPs have been mulling the idea of plain packaging since 2010. Cancer charities and health experts were expecting a bill to be introduced in the Queen’s Speech that would ban branded cigarette packaging, following a ban introduced in Australia last December. But the bill was apparently put on hold at the last minute. Prime Minister David Cameron claimed a decision had not been made yet.

Jason Turner, of JK Village Stores, in Lower Stoke, hopes the “loopy” plans will be binned. He believes the plain packs will worsen Medway’s problems with counterfeit cigarettes.

A recent survey by MSIntelligence revealed Gillingham topped the table for having the worst habit when it comes to smoking counterfeit cigarettes, with more than half being illegal.

It found 54.5% of packets thrown away in the town had avoided tax, while Poole in Dorset came second (50.83%) and Worthing in Sussex third (49.24%). Mr Turner, who has owned the shop for the past 18 months, said: “When I heard about the plans for plain packaging I thought it was loopy.

“Plain packaging is not going to stop people smoking all it will do it make it easier for people to sell counterfeit cigarettes.

“We’re out in the countryside on the Hoo Peninsula, so the counterfeit cigarette problem hasn’t hit us yet like it has in other areas of Medway, but if the laws are changed then kids will be able to get hold of cigarettes being sold on the streets.”

Cancer charities have since criticised the government for failing to bring in new laws.

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of health charity ASH said: “The evidence is clear that heavily-branded, brightly coloured packs are attractive to children.

“The government must commit now to put all tobacco products in standard packs.”