BRIGHTON and Hove has the highest number of child smokers in the country.

New NHS data shows 14.9 per cent of 15-year-olds in the city smoke – more than anywhere else in the country.

Analysis of the Statistics On Smoking data from NHS Digital sought to produce a map of the areas in the UK where under-age smoking was lowest and highest.

East Sussex was the fifth worst area in the country for children lighting up, with 12.8 per cent of 15-year-olds admitting to smoking.

The data showed 18 per cent of secondary school pupils aged 11 to 15 admitted to having smoked at least one cigarette.

Conversely the London boroughs of Redbridge and Enfield were found to have the lowest child smoking rates of just 3.4 per cent and 3.5 per cent.

Charles Bloom, boss of Vapourlites, the company which produced the child smoking map, said: “Statistics like these prove there is a need for more preventative measures and support in relation to young adults and smoking.

“Children should feel like they have an alternative outlet, to talk through how they feel and to gain relevant information, providing the tools for individuals to build their own path, away from the lure of addictions like cigarettes.

“We are yet to surpass smoking as an issue and so often it starts with young people – it would be foolish to overlook it.”

The analysis also found that 85 per cent of secondary school pupils smoked “to look cool” in front of their friends, while 72 per cent feel immense pressure to indulge in the habit.

Starting smoking earlier is known to cause additional risk of lung damage, bowel cancer and cervical pre-cancerous lesions.

Smoking just one cigarette in early childhood doubles the chance of a teenager becoming a regular smoker by the age of 17.

The earlier the young person becomes addicted and continues smoking into adulthood, the greater the risk of developing heart and lung disease later in life.

Around 40 per cent of regular smokers in Great Britain began smoking before the age of 16.

In 2009, children as young as 10 and pregnant women were offered shopping vouchers as incentives to quit smoking.