A PUB landlord from Rossendale has been found guilty of breaching the smoking ban - and ordered to pay more than £10,000 in fines and costs.

Nick Hogan, of Summerseat, had pleaded not guilty to five counts of failing to prevent people from smoking in his pubs and four of obstructing council officers.

He said he had done everything in his power to explain to customers that the smoking ban came into force on July 1 and that it was illegal to light up in enclosed public places.

He told the court he displayed signs explaining the new law in his pubs and told customers that the management and staff believed that they had the "right to choose".

No-smoking signs were placed in all windows and Hogan claimed staff told customers who lit up that it was against the law.

But the court dismissed this argument, saying he had not done enough to enforce the ban.

District judge Timothy Devas found him guilty of four charges of allowing people to smoke on July 5, 6, 17 and 19 last year.

Hogan, 40, was found not guilty of a further charge relating to July 10 because he was not in the premises at the time and not guilty of the four obstruction charges.

He was fined £750 for each conviction and ordered to pay £7,121 in costs, plus a £15 victim surcharge.

At the time of the offences Hogan was in charge of The Swan Hotel and Barristers in Bolton town centre.

He now runs The Swan With Two Necks in Chorley.

Judge Devas, sitting at Bolton Magistrates' Court, told him he had reduced the fines from the maximum, but said Hogan had committed a "flagrant breach of the law".

He said: "In relation to the other offences, I'm satisfied the polite way you requested the officers to leave does not amount to an offence."

Hogan, who sold his lease of the two pubs last November, represented himself in court. He is also the former licensee of the Holden Arms in Haslingden and the Waterside pub in Summerseat.

Following the trial, Hogan said: "I'm a bit shell-shocked at the size of the fine and the costs.

"I do believe this case was brought in the public interest and the costs seem excessive.

"I'm disappointed I was found guilty and I still believe this legislation was draconian. We haven't won this case, but the fight will go on."

A spokesman for Bolton council said: "We are pleased this situation has been resolved by the courts and we will continue to enforce the smoking legislation in Bolton, according to the law.

"It is unfortunate that court action was necessary in this case, but we did everything possible to try and resolve the issue with Mr Hogan prior to prosecution."