Smokers in Swindon have been giving up at a rate faster than nearly everywhere else in the country.

Research into government figures has shown that over the last 10 years the proportion of the borough’s residents who consider themselves smokers dropped from 20.4 per cent to 9.4 per cent.

That’s a 53.4 percentage cut in the proportion of smokers.

That puts Swindon second among towns and cities across the whole country for the size of decrease, bettered only by Oxford, just up the A420 where there was a 54.6 cut in the rate of smokers from 16.3 per cent to 7.4 smokers in every 100 adults.

Cutting the number of smokers has been an objective of Swindon Borough Council for years.

The former Conservative cabinet member for health Councillor Brian Ford, who is stepping down as a councillor at the election next month, said: ”This very encouraging drop in the rate of smokers is down to the hard work of officers.

“I’m very pleased to see Swindon in the forefront of the national rates of people giving up smoking.

“It was something that really did need addressing, and it really is important that the council keep up its work, not just on getting people to give up smoking but never starting in the first place.

Professor Steve Maddern, the council’s director of public health, said: “Helping people to quit has always been a priority so it’s great to see residents are quitting smoking, but there’s still more that can be done.”

Even though a higher proportion of smokers might have given up in Swindon the boroughs remaining 9.5 per cent of adults who smoke is higher than Oxford’s at 7.4 per cent Edinburgh’s at 8,3 per cent and also higher than York and Warrington from other cities in the top 10 of quitters.

Mr Maddern added: “Not only are we supporting people to stop smoking, but we’re also undertaking work to prevent people from taking up the habit in the first place which includes programmes within schools to make sure children don’t start smoking or vaping.

“We still have high number of smokers within some of our most vulnerable residents and our 2023-2028 strategy sets ambitious targets to reduce this. Our commitment is to be achieving a smoke-free generation in Swindon continues and we are extremely grateful to our partner organisations who are a key driving force in making this happen.

“If you’re looking to quit smoking and want support, please contact swindon.stopsmoking@nhs.net, or call 07341 077530. Residents can also drop into Sanford House on Wednesdays between 9.30am and 10.30am or 2pm and 4pm.”