One million smokers are to be encouraged to swap cigarettes for vapes as part of a new scheme designed to improve the health of the nation and cut smoking rates.

Almost one in five smokers in England will be provided with a vape started kit and behavioural support to help them quit.

The government has an ambition of being smoke free by 2030 - with smoking rates reduced to 5 per cent or less.

Local authorities will be invited to take part in the scheme.

Pregnant people will also offered financial incentives to help them stop smoking. All pregnant people who smoked will be offered vouchers and behavioural support by the end of next year.

There will also be a crackdown on illicit vape sales intended to stop children and non-smokers from taking it up.

Health minister Neil O’Brien said: "Up to two out of three lifelong smokers will die from smoking. Cigarettes are the only product on sale which will kill you if used correctly.

"We will offer a million smokers new help to quit. We will be funding a new national ‘swap to stop’ scheme – the first of its kind in the world. We will work with councils and others to offer a million smokers across England a free vaping starter kit."

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