Vaping boosts Imperial sales

LAMBERT & Butler maker Imperial Brands has said its annual sales of vaping and smoking alternatives are on track to hit up to around £1.5bn by 2020.

The British tobacco group said so-called next generation products will also begin to add to its group profit by the end of its 201819 financial year.

Imperial, which owns the Blu ecigarette brand, will launch a heated tobacco product called Pulze next year. Shares edged up 0.9pc, or 22.5p, to 2632p.