The number of children trying cigarettes has dipped to the lowest level on record, new figures suggest.

One in five pupils aged 11 to 15 said they had tried smoking, the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) found.

The NHS statistics authority said this was the lowest level recorded since the school pupil survey began in 1982.

The research also suggested that children's attitudes towards smoking, drinking and taking drugs were "considerably" healthier than a decade ago.

The prevalence of such habits among schoolchildren drastically dipped between 2003 and 2013, according to the HSCIC.

In 2003, 42% of children polled said they had lit up at least once in the past.

Just 3% of pupils admitted to being regular smokers last year, compared to 9% in 2003.

The survey, which involved 5,000 pupils in 174 schools across England, also showed that almost one in 10 (9%) polled in 2013 said they had drunk alcohol in the last week compared to a quarter in 2003.

And 6% of those questioned in 2013 said they had used illegal drugs in the past month compared to 12% a decade earlier, the HSCIC said.

Commenting on the figures, Deborah Arnott, chief executive of health charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), said: "The government target was to get smoking in 15-year-olds down to 12% by 2015 – by 2013 it's only two-thirds of that amount.

"What made the difference? Government action including banning tobacco advertising, putting large health warnings on packs and making all enclosed public places smoke-free.

"But more needs to be done and plain standardised tobacco packs are the obvious next step. Parliament and public back the policy, now the government must resist pressure from the tobacco industry and its front groups and make it happen.

"Every day's delay means hundreds more children start smoking, taking the first step towards addiction and premature death.

"Some people have been worried that electronic cigarettes could be a gateway into smoking for young people.

"These figures show that has not happened so far. But we need to keep monitoring use in young people, and make sure advertising and promotion of electronic cigarettes doesn't glamorise their use."