The UK city plagued by vape shops as 'black market grows'

New data has shown which UK cities have the highest concentration of vape shops. Registrations with Companies House, including active and dissolved businesses, show that Manchester tops the leaderboard, with 48.16 shops per 100,000 people. Preston comes a close second with 46.54, and Blackburn in third with 44.93. Specialists observe that the industry is especially "thriving" in northern cities, and that the "black market" is growing after single use disposable vapes were banned in May.

It is estimated that as many as five million single-use vapes were thrown in bins or littered every week across the UK, instead of being recycled. The single use products were disposed of in landfill or discarded as litter, where they can release harmful substances into the environment and endanger wildlife. The new law was also rolled out with a view to stopping valuable resources, such as cobalt, copper and lithium, being used in single-use devices.

10 UK cities and towns with most vape businesses per 100,000 people

Manchester - 48.16

Preston - 46.54

Blackburn - 44.93

Eastbourne - 43.33

Bury - 41.92

Bolton - 28.73

Mansfield - 24.50

Salford - 24.06

Barnsley - 22.90

Nottingham - 22.81

Lewis Clark, owner of Vape-Delivery.co.uk, said "It's clear from the data that vaping is thriving in certain parts of the UK, especially in northern cities like Manchester and Preston. But as the black market for vapes grows, it's more important than ever to buy your products from a legitimate, regulated business."

"Counterfeit or unregulated vapes can carry serious health risks. Always check that the retailer is reputable and their products are approved for sale under UK regulations."

10 UK cities and towns with fewest vape businesses per 100,000 people

Hastings - 3.29

Rayleigh - 3.14

Stockton-on-Tees - 3.05

Worthing - 2.75

West Bromwich - 2.73

Paisley - 2.62

Chelmsford - 2.60

Bracknell - 2.59

Aylesbury - 2.40

Wimbledon - 2.16

Giuseppe Capanna, product safety engineer at Electrical Safety First, said in June: "With reports of vapers having stockpiled these devices there is a risk that a large number of them could end up in the waste system if they are thrown out incorrectly in the household bin.

"These devices contain lithium-ion batteries that can explode or catch fire if damaged or crushed if they make their way into bin lorries, creating a ticking time bomb that puts refuse workers and communities at serious risk.

"The safest option is to recycle them properly. You can recycle them through retail take-back schemes or at a local recycling centre that has dedicated facilities."

The NHS says nicotine vaping is "less harmful than smoking" and is "one of the most effective tools" for quitting.

However, it is "not completely harmless and we don't know yet what the long-term effects may be".

"Children and non-smokers should never vape," the service adds.