THERE are calls for a smacking ban in England after the Welsh Assembly voted for its introduction on Tuesday.

Wales will join 58 other nations – including Scotland – in ending the physical punishment of children.

Ministers say the legislation will come into force in 2022 after gaining Royal Assent despite concerns being raised it could deter parents from England holidaying in Wales.

The issue got Adver readers talking on Facebook and here's what we were told...

Ben Carr: "Kids need discipline, I’m not saying beat them but a gentle reminder doesn’t hurt."

Pauline Chisholm: "Smacking is punishment, consequences are discipline. Big difference."

Jessica Soane: "Smacking is just an indication that a parent has lost control. There are plenty of ways to enforce discipline in children without resorting to a physical punishment. If you messed up and behaved badly, would you like someone to smack you as an adult? And you would have less of an excuse as you're an adult and should know how to behave."

Alan Walklett: "Kids are becoming equal to their parents nowadays. Hence a lot of the issues."

Kirsty-Rose Jessen: "When I was a child we were taught to respect our elders and it was also a case of kids were scared to do anything wrong for they knew what punishment they were in for when got home. But kids nowadays get away with anything and everything and parents aren't allowed to discipline without child abuse being thrown in their faces. I got hit once and that was the only time as I learnt my lessons. Kids these days have no idea how lucky they are."

Sandy Lambeck: "Children don't like being told 'no'. My mum and dad never believed in smacking and there were six of us. We had respect and discipline and no meant no. If dad said we were not going out, we didn't."

James Higgins: "So when you smack your kids do you actually think at the time this will help make them a better person? Or is it just a complete lack of your self control?"

Jessica Wilson: "When you smack a child it's fear you're installing, not respect."

Caz Rickards: "Sorry but I don't see any harm in a little smack. I had it when I was a kid and it taught me not to do it again and I respected my parents then and now.

"Would you rather the cane or the slippers or the belt to a little smack to teach then it's not ok to behave the way they are?"

Ken Woolley: "I met a man around 30 and he had a son of eight who was well behaved. The man had been brought up with a lot of smacks, he said he would never smack his son. If anyone did, he'd smack them. I repeat what I've always said, you should only smack a child when it's big enough to smack you back."

Nicky Ramage: "I'm an 80s child and got slapped. Didn't do me any harm. I respect my parents. I was never beaten. I don't think anything is wrong with it. Each to their own."

Steve Davidson: "This has been law over here in New Zealand for a few years now. The outcome is youth crime is up. There is no respect for your elders because the kids can do whatever they like and there is no consequences. But in the meantime child murders – usually by family members – has risen."

Helen Geddes: "I got a smack as a child didn't do me any harm or turn me violent. I never smacked my two boys, just a threat was enough for them to behave. There's no discipline these days, it's no wonder the country is full of unruly brats that end up in trouble with the law."

Debbi A Smithson: "What I find is that if a parent respects a child they will respect them back. If you love and listen to your child and have time for them they won’t want to disrespect you. Why should they fear you? That isn’t a healthy relationship ship."