Pub chain JD Wetherspoons today scrapped plans to ban smoking in its pubs this year.

The group, which runs the Postal Order in Darwen Street, Blackburn, and the Brun Lea in Manchester Road, Burnley, said it was putting off the ban until 2007.

Announcing the move alongside a 21 per cent rise in half-year profits to £27.4 million, chairman Tim Martin said the goalposts had moved after the government decided to bring forward a national ban by 18 months.