Figures show TWO MILLION Brits have tried them and 650,000 use them regularly. But Health Minister Simon Burns said some e-cigs had been "found to pose a potential danger".

They contain nicotine-infused water inhaled as a vapour. A consultation has found support for having them controlled by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority.

The MHRA said: "It's illegal to sell e-cigarettes as a 'quit smoking' aid unless they're licensed as a medicine."

Shadow health minister Diane Abbott said e-cigs' potential to help the UK's ten million smokers quit is being "held back by a lack of scientific research" into them.