AN EAST Lancashire MP has branded a call to extend the smoking ban to pub gardens and public parks as ‘ludicrous’.

Nigel Evans, Ribble Valley MP, said widening the ban to places like the school gates was an attack on the ‘soft underbelly’ and would eventually lead to smoking being banned everywhere.

The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) said the ban was needed to ‘de-normalise’ smoking and make lighting up even more inconvenient.

“There seems to be a total lack of proportion in the attacks on those who smoke. It’s relentless; we have to get some balance into the debate. To pillory them and to say they are no longer able to smoke in the open air is tantamount to an attack on people’s freedom,” said Mr Evans, who has a couple of cigars a year.

Lancashire has a slightly higher than average number of smokers – more than 200,000.

Earlier this year Lancashire County Council launched a countywide scheme urging people to stop smoking near play areas.

Blackburn Councillor Mohammed Khan and chair of the borough’s health and wellbeing board said he was in favour of legislation extending the ban to other areas where people might inhale smoke.

He said: “Everyone knows smoking is bad for your health. I do not know how they would enforce it but you should respect other people and I personally think it’s a good thing to extend the ban.”

Shirley Cramer, RSPH chief executive, also wants smokers to switch to e-cigarettes.

She said: “Over 100,000 people die from smoking-related disease every year in the UK. While we have made good progress to reduce smoking rates, one in five of us still do. Getting people on to nicotine rather than using tobacco would make a big difference.”

Smokers’ lobby group Forest described the proposals to rename e-cigarettes as “a silly idea”.

n From October 1, it will be illegal for anyone to smoke in a vehicle which contains someone under 18, with the exception of convertibles when the roof is fully down.