ONE in five adults in the Bradford district are smokers, higher than the national average, according to new figures.

Public Health England said 20.9 per cent of people were smokers in 2015, compared with 20.2 per cent in 2014.

Bradford has more smokers than the surrounding areas of Calderdale, Kirklees and Leeds - and all three of those areas also saw a drop in the number of smokers from 2014 to 2015. Calderdale dropped from 20.2 per cent to 18.7 per cent; Kirklees 21.2 per cent to 16.4 per cent; and Leeds 23.1 per cent to 18.5 per cent.

Across Yorkshire and the Humber, 18.6 per cent of adults were smokers in 2015, compared with 20.1 per cent the previous year. Nationally, the number dropped from 18 per cent to 16.9 per cent.

Bradford was seventh in the table for the number of smoking-related deaths in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Between 2012 and 2014, Public Health England said there were 330.1 smoking-related deaths in Bradford per 100,000 people - lower than Kingston upon Hull (433.7), Doncaster (371.1), North East Lincolnshire (354), Barnsley (345.5), Leeds (340.2) and Wakefield (330.6).

In Yorkshire and the Humber, the rate was 313.1, while nationally it was 274.8.

Joanne Nykol, tobacco lead for Bradford Council, said: “Reducing the level of smoking prevalence in the Bradford district and encouraging residents to quit is a key priority for Bradford Council.

“Smoking remains the single biggest cause of preventable deaths in the district and is a threat to young people in particular.

“Over the last few years we have worked hard to reduce smoking in the area by targeting illicit trade, helping families to make their homes smokefree, working in schools, and supporting those wanting to quit.

"Our aim is to help create a smoke free district where the next generation understand that smoking is not a normal activity and that cigarettes kill one in every two long-term smokers. Bradford Council has a wide range of stop smoking support, including support for smokers wanting to quit using their electronic cigarette. Contact 01274 437700 for support to quit."

Paul Butcher, the chairman of the Yorkshire and Humber directors of public health, added: "The best thing a smoker can do for their health is to quit."