IT MIGHT look like an ordinary fag, the the ‘smoke’ might seem authentic but the only odour from the e-cigarette is the sweet smell of success.

Bosses at IntelliCIG, a 17-employee firm based at Fort Street, Accrington are targeting making those plumes of cigarette smoke outside the nation’ s pubs finally vanish into thin air.

Available in three different colours, IntelliCIG runs on a mixture of four chemicals, making it a healthier smoking alternative that allows smokers to be free once again to smoke in pubs and other public places - even aeroplanes.

When you inhale from the electronic cigarette, a switch activates the rechargeable battery which instantly vaporises a tiny drop of the cartridge liquid. The vapour contains nicotine within the ‘mist’ which is delivered straight to the bloodstream via the lungs, giving that instant satisfaction and relief from cigarette craving.

Alternative products are on the market, but IntelliCIG has already racked up ?1 million in worldwide sales in its first year and can now be purchased in five continents. It is available in every pharmacy in Greece, and has even been adopted by a Middle Eastern government as part of a nationwide health kick.

Managing director David Newns, 25, explained: "I was in China doing product research and came across the product. I thought it was really interesting and the potential is absolutely amazing. In South Africa, which is a very big smoking country, there say if people start using IntelliCIG they will half their insurance premiums.

"Our aim at IntelliCIG is to produce the cleanest and healthiest product available anywhere in the world. IntelliCIG has been commended by healthcare professionals and ex-smokers alike as a much better and more sensible alternative cigarette."

The exact combination of ingredients along with pharmaceutical grade nicotine provides the customary nicotine taste but without the harmful carcinogens.

David added: "We cannot officially claim yet that it will help you stop smoking - even though we know it does and we have got hundreds of emails and letters saying as much. What we can say is that it’ s an alternative to smoking and it’ s much healthier for you."

He added: "I have used it on aeroplanes just to see the reaction from people, and it’ s not been an issue.

"The reality is that people would be quite discreet about it anyway. But we have different models.

"We have a black one and if you don’ t want people coming over to you that’ s the one you choose.

"But if you don’ t want to look out of place we have a white one. It depends what you want."