SMOKERS and pub and club bosses in East Lancashire who fail to follow the new laws after July 1 will be hit in the pocket.

The legislation bans smoking in virtually all enclosed public places and workplaces, including public transport, company vehicles used by more than one driver and taxis.

Now it has been announced that people caught breaking the rules by smoking a cigarette or cigar will face £50 fines.

Publicans, shopkeepers and other traders who allow smokers free rein could be given £200 penalties.

Disregard for anti-smoking laws, or repeated breaches, could even land businesses in court, according to the authorities.

Prosecutions could also be mounted for failures to display no-smoking signage and obstructing council employees investigating potential misdemeanours.

Blackburn with Darwen council has signed up to a protocol with other unitary councils like Blackpool, on how it will crack down on offenders.

And Rossendale council has outlined a similar policy on what will happen to smokers once July rolls around.

Other councils such as Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle and Ribble Valley will also adopt the enforcement procedures.

Councils must only issue fixed penalty notices when there would be enough evidence to mount a prosecution.

If there is not enough evidence to back up the penalty notices - and they were left unpaid - then the fear is that the smoke-free cause would be harmed.

Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust has backed the official Smoke Free England campaign. Stop smoking classes are being held at centres in Darwen, Shadsworth, Blackburn Central Library and Larkhill Health Centre.

East Lancashire Primary Care Trust has also launched a number of schemes to limit smoking in the home. public health director Dr Ellis Friedman said: "All the experience is that stopping smoking improves public health substantially.