THE percentage of adults in the district who smoke has reached a record low, new figures show.

Latest data, drawn from the Office for National Statistics annual population survey, reveals that in the Bradford district 14.4 per cent of adults were smokers last year.

The figure is down from 15.6 per cent the year before and the lowest since records began locally in 2012.

Findings from the research also showed that 20 per cent of adults in Bradford district were former smokers, while 65.6 per cent have never smoked.

The drop is mirrored nationally.

Across the UK, smoking levels reached their lowest level since national records began in 2011, with 11.9 per cent of adults saying they smoked cigarettes.

Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of public health charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), says the figures are proof the country is “ready to be smoke-free”.

Publication of the statistics comes after the Government revived plans to introduce the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, 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.

Separate figures from the Office for National Statistics opinions and lifestyle survey found that around 5.1 million people aged 16 and over – 9.8 per cent – used an e-cigarette daily or occasionally in Britain last year.

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

Professor Nick Hopkinson, respiratory physician and chairman of ASH, says: “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 amongst young people and growing use amongst '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.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson says: “Vapes can be an effective way for adult smokers to quit, but we have always been clear that children and adult non-smokers shouldn't vape.

“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.”