The Government will take one of the world's largest tobacco firms to court unless it stops illegally targeting UK consumers with tobacco adverts, a Minister has said.

Yesterday the Department of Health sent a formal order to Phillip Morris, which makes Marlboro cigarettes, telling it to remove poster adverts for "healthier" tobacco products from shops around the UK.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, the public health minister, Steve Brine, warned that the department was prepared to take legal action against Phillip Morris in order to protect UK consumers from being targeted by the adverts.

Unlawful advertisement of tobacco can result a financial penalty or custodial sentence of up to six months.

Phillip Morris denies the adverts are illegal and claims it wants to help smokers by providing them with better tobacco alternatives.