More adults in Carlisle were smokers last year, new figures show – bucking the trend across the UK.

It comes as public health charity Action on Smoking and Health urged the Government to bring forward its bill to end the sale of tobacco and to create a generation "free from the harms of smoking".

Based on the 161 respondents to the Office for National Statistic's annual population survey in Carlisle, an estimated 13.3 per cent of adults in the area were smokers in 2023 – up from 9.9 per cent the year before.

The survey asked people if they "smoke cigarettes nowadays".

The figures also showed 25.2 per cent of adults in Carlisle were ex-smokers, while 61.5 per cent have never smoked.

Across the UK, smoking levels reached their lowest level since national records began in 2011, with 11.9% of adults saying they smoked cigarettes. In the North West, 11.8 per cent smoked.

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

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It could also lead to restrictions on the flavours, packaging and display of vapes.

Last year Cumberland Council’s executive committee approved plans to move towards a ‘smoke free Cumberland’.

A national review said that all areas should seek to become ‘smoke-free’ by 2030 which would require a reduction to just 5 per cent of residents being smokers which would require around 15,000 successful ‘quits’ in Cumberland and no one else taking up smoking.