By Chris Gee

Stockport has placed at number six in a list of the country's 'top 10 vape capitals', in a new study.

The town is one of four Greater Manchester locations to place in the top six, recording among the highest registered vape shops per 100,000 residents.

• Blackburn ranks as the UK's vaping capital, with 22.56 registered vape shops per 100,000 residents, the largest figure for any UK town or city.
• Second on the list is Bolton, with 20.26 vape shops registered per 100,000 population. The borough has 41 registered vape shops in total serving its 202,369 residents.
• Manchester ranks third, with 110 vape shops. However, the city's larger population means this works out to 19.84 registered vape retailers per 100,000 residents.
• Rounding out the top five is Salford, equivalent to 12.03 shops per 100,000.
• Stockport ranks sixth, with 10.91 vape retailers per the same proportion of residents.

Last September, a meeting of Bolton Council heard child addicts as young as 13 are 'unable to go an hour' at school without vaping. They heard St Joseph's high school in Horwich installed vape sensors to address the crisis.

In Stockport, the council has said addressing underage vaping is a 'priority'. Cllr Frankie Singleton, cabinet member for communities, culture and sport, said: "Reducing the availability of illicit products and, reducing the risk of children accessing age restricted products are priority areas for trading standards.

"Illicit vape liquid can contain undeclared contaminants and we will continue to work with our Stockport police colleagues to prevent immediate and longer-term harm to our children and communities."

The figures account for Stockport's town population, not the borough as a whole (Image - Alexander Greensmith)

Online vape store Go Smoke Free used GOV.UK's Companies House advanced search feature to find businesses registered for the retail sale of tobacco products in specialised stores. The number of these active businesses was then compared to each town or city's population size.

A spokesperson for Go Smoke Free, said: "Disposable vapes have gained popularity in recent years, due to their convenience, portability and low cost, which has made them an attractive option for those who would otherwise have been unlikely to invest in a more complex vaping setup.

"The new disposable vape ban should help to discourage children from taking up vaping, while encouraging adults to shift to more sustainable alternatives, such as refillable vapes.

"This study highlights which areas of the UK are most likely to be affected by the upcoming ban on selling disposable vapes.

"The Greater Manchester area boasts its fair share of stores catering to vapers' needs, with Blackburn, Bolton and the city of Manchester claiming the top three spots.

"These cities could see a significant shift in their vaping culture, with the ban impacting consumer behaviour, and existing vape retailers adapting their offerings to cater to the new legislation."

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