One of the world’s biggest vaping companies has attacked the sale of e-cigarettes with flavours that appeal to children, such as sweets and milkshakes, which health experts want to ban.

Juul said it would never sell flavours, which are widely available in Britain, such as “gummy bear” or “cotton candy”. It added that they were “clearly targeted to kids”. The Sunday Times revealed last month that vaping products available in Britain for as little as £1 include flavours such as strawberry custard, ice-cream cake and jelly babies.