PROFESSOR John Ashton, North West Regional Director of Public Health, is urging pubs and clubs across the region to stamp out the smoking habit now and not wait until the new smoke-free legislation comes into effect in 18 months time.

"Passive smoking claims 800 lives every year in the UK, which is four times as many people as are killed in accidents at work. We can make an inroad into this appalling figure if we introduce smoking bans immediately, as an alternative to waiting until legislation compels us to," Professor Ashton said.

"I would urge local authorities and Primary Care Trusts across the North West, from Carlisle to Crewe, to work with their local bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants to help them develop smoke-free environments as soon as possible. Passive smoking is detrimental to health over a long period so we won't immediately save 800 lives over the next year by creating a smoke-free North West now, but we will begin to see reductions in the overall death toll. Lives will be saved if we implement the smoke ban sooner than later."