A LANCASHIRE pub landlord who flouted the smoking ban, has walked free from prison after an online campaign raised enough money to pay his fines.

Nick Hogan was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £7,136 in costs when he was found guilty of breaching the ban in January 2008.

Hogan, 43, of Hollinshead Street, Chorley, had failed to pay the money and was sent to prison for six months by Bolton Magistrates Court.

But the former landlord of the Holden Arms in Haslingden and the Waterside pub in Summerseat, whose wife Denise runs The Swan With Two Necks in Chorley, has now walked free after serving 11 days of his sentence.

Speaking outside Forest Bank prison in Salford, Hogan, 43, said: “I was devastated to be sent to jail.

"The smoking ban has cost me my pub, my job and my liberty.

“I’d like to thank everyone who donated money to get me out of jail, and all the well-wishers who sent me cards and letters while I was behind bars.

"I can’t thank them enough.

“It’s wonderful to know that so many people feel as strongly as I do about the smoking ban and its impact on ordinary working people.”

The campaign to pay Hogan’s fines was launched by blogger Anna Raccoon with the help of fellow libertarian blogger Old Holborn, who set up an account so people could donate online.

Within 36 hours over £5,000 had been raised. A further £1,200 was donated over the next two days.

By the end of last week donations totalled more than £9,000, enough to pay.