A high street retail giant has announced plans to axe the sale of disposable vapes.

Superdrug announced on Friday (September 22) that it would no longer stock single-use e-cigarettes, The Sun reports.

It has yet to be confirmed when the ban will apply, but all stores across the UK and Ireland are to be impacted.

The health and beauty firm cited "alarming concerns for the environment" and the growing use of vapes by young people.

Lucy Morton-Channon, head of environmental, social, and governance, said: "The rate that consumers are using single-use vapes and discarding them is worrying and alarming for the environment.

"Many of these single-use vapes contain lithium batteries, which should be disposed of responsibly but many end up in landfill, and incorrect battery disposal can lead to a risk of fires.

"The lasting effects that single use vapes are having on the environment needs to be addressed, and I am pleased that we’ve decided to remove them from all stores."

Healthcare director Ghada Beal added: "It’s our responsibility at Superdrug to provide the best choice for consumers who want alternatives to cigarettes whether that’s smoking cessation products or vaping options.

"We need to be responsible about the growing trend in disposable vapes among young people, and the lasting effect on the environment."

It comes as reports suggest disposable vapes are to be banned to help protect children.

Ministers are said to be drawing up plans to ban disposable vapes, which are said to be targeted at those under 18.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has previously called for a ban on disposable vapes as it warned that “youth vaping is fast becoming an epidemic among children”.

The College warned that e-cigarettes “are not a risk-free product and can be just as addictive, if not more so than traditional cigarettes”.

It called for urgent action to protect youngsters, saying experts agree that longer-term data is needed on the effects of vaping.