By Tommy Lumby, data reporter

Cigarettes are becoming an increasingly rare sight in Dartford and Gravesham, as smoking rates hit a seven-year low, figures show.

Public Health England says the habit is in terminal decline and that a smoke-free generation is in sight.

The latest Office for National Statistics data shows that 10.5% of people aged 18 and over in Gravesham were smokers last year.

It was the lowest smoking rate for seven years – in 2012, it was 21%.

Of the non-smokers in Gravesham, 17.1% had kicked the habit and 72.4% had never lit up.

In Dartford, 9.9% of people aged 18 and over were smokers last year, also the lowest smoking rate for seven years. In 2012, it was 25.7%.

“This is really positive news in the battle against the nation’s biggest killer." - Duncan Selbie

Of the non-smokers in Dartford, 30.2% had kicked the habit and 59.9% had never lit up.

Both Dartford and Gravesham’s smoking rate was lower than across the South East – where 12.9% smoked across the region.

Duncan Selbie, chief executive of PHE, said: “Smoking in England is in terminal decline, with the lowest number of smokers ever and a smoke-free generation now in sight.

“This is really positive news in the battle against the nation’s biggest killer.

“Unfortunately, smoking rates remain high among people on lower incomes and those experiencing mental health problems, and every effort and means to support them quitting is where we need to most focus.”

Across England, the smoking rate also hit a seven-year low, at 14.4%.

But campaign group Action on Smoking and Health has called on the government to impose a “polluter pays” levy on the tobacco industry to help end smoking by 2035.

They also want to increase the age of sale for cigarettes to 21.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said it had taken bold action to reduce smoking rates, including the introduction of standardised packaging for cigarettes, making it illegal to smoke in a car with a child, and covering up tobacco products in shops.