A spokesman for the Arctic Monkeys has leapt to their defence after they came under fire for their ‘controversial’ album cover.

Dr Laurence Gruer of the Scottish NHS believes that the photo of the lad smoking a cigarette will hammer home to youngsters that it’s a ‘cool’ thing to do.

But Arctic Monkeys’ product manager Johnny Bradshaw has refuted the claims, telling the BBC: "We have not had any complaints from supermarkets or places where the album has been stocked."

"You can see from the image smoking is not doing him the world of good!"

Dr Gruer had originally complained: Although the band is from Sheffield, thousands of youngsters in Scotland will buy it because it is good music.

"It is the fastest-selling album in British history, but it gives out the wrong image."

He added: "With a blatant image of a guy smoking, it will be seen by many as a cool thing to do."

Is that the time already? Cigarette break methinks...