Smoking will be “eradicated” in England by 2030 as roughly a thousand people quit every day, health chiefs have predicted.

More than a million smokers have kicked the habit since 2014, Public Health England said yesterday, leaving overall rates at their lowest ever, with just 14.9 per cent of adults smoking.

The figures were announced as the Government body launched its annual “Stoptober” campaign - a drive to encourage people to stop for at least 28 days - which this year prominently features the benefits of e-cigarettes.

Britain currently has the second lowest smoking rates in Europe after Sweden, and officials believe that if the rate of reduction seen over the past five years is maintained then by 2030 England would be classed as “smoke-free”, defined as less than 5 per cent of the total population smoking.

Nearly 400,000 smokers gave up successfully last year, PHE said yesterday, and statisticians believe a further 6.1 million - six in 10 smokers - actively want to quit.

But the agency warned people that going “cold turkey”, trying to quit using willpower alone, was the least effective method.