A SOUTHAMPTON newsagent stands to lose nearly £250,000 in sales a year after he decided to stop selling cigarettes because of their health risks.

Siva Pillay is prepared to forfeit the money he gets from one of his biggest selling items - cigarettes - because he feels he is contributing to the deaths of hundreds of smokers.

As of today, Mr Pillay and his wife Brenda will be pulling the shutter down on their cigarette counter at Dale Valley Stores in Dale Road, Aldermoor, for one last time. From tomorrow, they will no longer sell any tobacco items including lighters.

Mr Pillay, 40, said: "We believe that smoking kills and it is bad."

"It's a moral issue and we feel that we are contributing to the detriment of people's health. We have to stand by our beliefs."

Mrs Pillay added: "We may not be making millions but we could be saving millions."

The couple, who have a four year old daughter and used to live in Shirley, bought the shop in March this year.

They are Jehovah's Witnesses and are also against smoking for religious reasons.

They have allowed three months for customers to get used to the idea by displaying two signs both in the shop and outside that state as of June 1 they will no longer sell cigarettes.

With a turnover of £4,000 in cigarettes each week, or £208,000 a year, it could make a dramatic impact.

"It is not a big profit but it is something that brings the people in," said Mr Pillay.

"My sales have not really suffered. It will be a small loss, however our customers are supporting us.

"When people ask us why we are doing it, we just show them a packet, which says 'smoking kills'.

"One customer even said it will help him to give them up because this is his local shop.

"Some kids have caused trouble by kicking in the front door after we refused to serve them. This will stop under-age children coming in and asking for cigarettes."

Customer Judith Hope, a retired nurse from Aldermoor, said: "It's a brave move and I have not heard of any shop doing something like this before."

Spokesman Naj Dehlavi of the smoking awareness campaign group ASH, supports the move.

"I have heard of one or two shops in London doing this before but that is normally because of a family tragedy due to smoking.

"It's extremely admirable to take a moral stance like this. He has been part of the chain who is selling death.

"It's brave of him but it shows cigarettes are not essential to the income of small shops.

"I hope his customers support him."