SHOCK figures from the Office for National Statistics show Redditch has the highest proportion of smokers in the country.
A ‘smoking prevalence’ survey undertaken by the ONS in 2017 for 24.8 per cent of the borough’s population are current smokers, with Thanet in Kent second on 23.7 per cent, Kingston upon Hull (23.1 per cent) and even cities like Glasgow (22.8 per cent) and Birmingham (13.7 per cent).
Redditch had far more smokers than near neighbours Bromsgrove district (12.6 per cent), Worcester city (11 per cent) and Stratford district (9.8 per cent).
Smoking is related to a large number of illnesses, including lung diseases like emphysema and chronic bronchitis and lung cancer.
Dr Lola Abudu of Public Health England said: “Smoking is still the biggest cause of preventable death and illness in the West Midlands.
While we have seen a positive decline in recent years, the numbers of adults still smoking is worryingly high.”
Her colleague Professor John Newton added: “E-cigarettes are now the most popular way to quit.
“The evidence is clear – vaping is much less harmful than smoking, a fraction of the risk.”
