THERE has been a significant decrease in the percentage of smokers in Warrington.

So much so that the town has been ranked eighth in terms of the areas where the most people have quit smoking in the UK.

This is according to research by Two Wombats, a nicotine pouch store, who analysed data on smoking prevalence to determine the percentage difference in current smokers from 2012 to 2022 for the most populated cities in the UK.

These results were then ranked by the highest percentage decrease to the highest percentage increase of current smokers.

Warrington came eighth, with a decrease of 46.2 per cent in the percentage of current smokers from 2012 to 2022.

In 2012, the percentage of smokers in the town was 18.4, compared to 9.9 per cent in 2022.

At the top of the list with the biggest decrease in current smokers was Oxford with a 54.6 decrease.

Swindon came second with a 53.4 per cent decrease.

Behind Warrington in ninth place was Leeds with a 45.4 per cent decrease, followed by Sunderland with a 44.5 per cent decrease.

Cormac Folan, a smoking expert and spokesperson from Two Womabts, commented on the findings:

"It is encouraging and promising to see these cities making significant progress in reducing smoking rates.

“When it comes to quitting smoking, having a strong support network, source of positive influence and encouraging environment can help individuals quit smoking successfully.”