The Greater Manchester neighbourhoods where people are most likely to smoke

The number of smokers in the UK has halved over the past 20 years, with many switching to alternatives - or quitting altogether.

Around seven million people continue to smoke, including many from across Greater Manchester.

New statistics reveal the percentage of people who smoke in each constituency across the region.

According to the figures, calculated by Philip Morris Limited, Manchester has smoking levels higher than the average for the north west.

Salford and Eccles, and Worsley and Eccles South have the highest number of smokers at 20 per cent.

The second highest percentage is in Blackley and Broughton - 18.6pc.

Residents of Hazel Grove, Stockport and Cheadle smoke the least -13.3pc.

Around seven million people smoke in the UK (PA)

The figures have been calculated for every constituency in the country.

They reveal that people in northern Labour constituencies are four times more likely to smoke than in the Tory shires.

Read more of today's top stories

Burnley, Hull and Mansfield have Britain's highest smoking levels, while Rushcliffe in Nottinghamshire has the lowest levels in the whole of the UK.

Mark MacGregor, external affairs director at PML, said: "These results show the huge variations in smoking levels across the different parts of Britain.

"We hope MPs in Manchester and the North West will use the figures to better target help for smokers locally, particularly in seats with the highest smoking prevalence.

"If the government is to meet its ambitious target, one of the keys to getting smoking prevalence down will be ensuring smokers who don’t quit, understand that alternatives, like e-cigarettes and heated tobacco, are significantly better than continuing to smoke.”

The percentage of smokers in each of the 27 constituencies in Greater Manchester:

Salford and Eccles - 20pc

Worsley and Eccles South - 20pc

Blackley and Broughton - 18.6pc

Oldham West and Royton - 18pc

Oldham East and Saddleworth - 18pc

Ashton-under-Lyne - 17.5pc

Gorton - 17.2pc

Withington - 17.2pc

Manchester Central - 17.2pc

Stalybridge and Hyde - 17pc

Rochdale - 16.2pc

Heywood and Middleton - 16.2pc

Bury South - 16pc

Bury North - 16pc

Wigan - 15.5pc

Leigh - 15.5pc

Makerfield - 15.5pc

Wythenshawe and Sale East - 15.4pc

Bolton West - 15.4pc

Bolton North East - 15.3pc

Bolton South East - 15.3pc

Denton and Reddish - 15.1pc

Stretford and Urmston - 13.5pc

Altrincham and Sale West - 13.5pc

Stockport - 13.3pc

Cheadle - 13.3pc

Hazel Grove - 13.3pc