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Vaping has helped slash smoker numbers by 1.6 million in six years.

Figures show 6.1 million, or 15%, of adults in England used tobacco in 2017 – down from 7.7 million, or 20%, in 2011.

And there are now 2.8 million vapers after 5.5% of adults said they used an e-cig in 2017 – up from 3.7% when records started in 2014.

Smoking is more common in poorer areas.

Blackpool, Manchester, Hull, Sunderland and Hartlepool all had smoking-related hospital admissions above 3,000 per 100,000 of population. Wokingham had the lowest at 969.

(Image: Photographer's Choice)

Duncan Selbie of Public Health England said the war on tobacco “will only be won if we make more progress in helping people from deprived areas”.

James Dunworth of E-cigarette Direct added: “As e-cigs have become popular, smoking rates have fallen. The trend is only going one way.”