THE number of people vaping in Great Britain has now hit three million for the first time - four times the number in 2012.

The statistics have been released in a new survey by Action on Smoking and Health.

2 3 Million people now vape in the UK which is four times as many as 2012 Credit: Getty - Contributor

Most people use e-cigarettes because they have quit smoking and 40 per cent are smokers trying to quit.

The estimations are based on a survey of 12,000 adults.

But analysis from King's College London found that there is still a "worrying" belief that vaping is as bad as smoking.

Public Health England said earlier this year that e-cigarettes should be made available on prescription because of how successful they were at helping people quit smoking.

And a report by MPs in August said rules around e-cigarettes should be relaxed so they could be used on public transport.

Ash, the public health charity, said the survey suggested smokers were getting the message that switching to vaping could improve their health.

2 Kings College London said there is still a 'worrying' belief that vaping is as bad as smoking Credit: Alamy

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But around a third of smokers have still never tried one.

Alison Cook, director of policy at the British Lung Foundation, said it was "really encouraging" to see smokers using e-cigarettes to help them give up.

She said doctors and pharmacists should be clear with people that vaping is a way to stop smoking.