ONE in 10 adults in South Lakeland were smokers last year, new research from a government department has found.

According to the Office for National Statistic’s an estimated 10.3 per cent of adults in the area admitted they were smokers in 2023 – down slightly from 10.4 per cent in 2022.

The survey was based on the response of 215 participants and asked people if they ‘smoke cigarettes nowadays’.

The figures also found 31.8 per cent of adults were ex-smokers, while 57.9 per cent said they had never smoked.

It comes as smoking levels across the country hit their lowest level since national records began in 2011, with 11.9 per cent of adults saying they smoked cigarettes.

Public health charity Action on Smoking and Health have urged the government to bring forward its bill to end the sale of tobacco and to create a generation ‘free from the harms of smoking’.

ASH chief executive Hazel Cheeseman said the figures are proof the country is "ready to be smoke-free".

She added: "There is cross-party support for ending the sale of tobacco and creating a generation free from the harms of smoking and Government should bring forward the bill as soon as possible.

“Our poorest communities continue to pay the price for tobacco company profits, as do our public services and economy.

"Alongside creating a smoke-free generation, the Government must maintain the commitment of the last Government to invest in support to help the 6 million people currently smoking to quit."

The figures in the UK also showed those aged 25 to 34 years had the highest proportion of current smokers in the UK. In the North West, 45 to 54 year-olds made up the highest proportion (15.3 per cent).

Publication of the smoking statistics comes after the Government revived plans to introduce the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in July, which could progressively increase the age at which people can buy tobacco, preventing anyone born in or after 2009 being legally able to do so.

It could also lead to restrictions on the flavours, packaging and display of vapes.

E-cigarette use was highest among people aged 16 to 24 years, with 15.8% using e-cigarettes either daily or occasionally.

Professor Nick Hopkinson, respiratory physician and chairman of ASH, said: "Vaping has helped millions of adults quit smoking and is much less harmful than smoking.

"However, it is not risk-free and high levels of use among young people and growing use among never smokers is a concern."

He said the new bill must provide a "tough" regulatory framework to control the marketing and sale of e-cigarettes.

"We need to reinforce the role of vaping as a tool to stop smoking, not a lifestyle accessory," he added.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "Vapes can be an effective way for adult smokers to quit, but we have always been clear children and adult non-smokers should not vape."

They added: "Meanwhile, smoking claims 80,000 lives a year, puts huge pressure on our NHS, and costs taxpayers billions.

"The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will protect future generations from the harms of tobacco and nicotine, saving thousands of lives and easing pressures on the NHS."