Smoking rates in Carlisle reached a record low last year, new figures show.

However, charity Action on Smoking and Health said the figures are a "wake up call" as rates across the country are not falling fast enough to meet the Government's target of 5 per cent or less by 2030.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show 9.9 per cent of adults in Carlisle smoked in 2022 – down from 14.7 per cent the year before and the lowest rate since records began for the area in 2012.

It follows trends across England, where the national rate of smokers reached 12.7 per cent, the lowest level on record.

Across the UK, smoking among adults also fell to its lowest level of 12.9 per cent last year – a drop on the 13.3 per cent reported in 2021.

James Tucker, head of health analysis at the ONS, said the figure is "consistent with the continuing trend towards a decline in smoking prevalence over recent years".

Earlier this year, Cumberland Council’s executive committee approved plans to move towards a ‘smoke-free Cumberland’ as part of a new scheme. 

The new scheme will see an enhanced universal pharmacy stop smoking service and the recruitment of specialist staff to help target the most deprived communities where smoking rates are the highest.

The ONS figures also showed 5.2 per cent of people aged over 16 used e-cigarettes daily in 2022, up from 4.9 per cent in 2021.

The Department of Health and Social Care said it is looking to "balance the public health opportunities vaping offers to smokers, while protecting young people and non-smokers from using them".

The data also revealed men in the UK were more likely to smoke, with 14.6 per cent using cigarettes in 2022 compared to 11.2 per cent of women.

Similarly, men in Carlisle were more likely to be smokers at 10.8 per cent compared to 9 per cent of women in the area last year.