Thirty towns join the race to ban smoking

Plans to ban smoking in public places are being fast-tracked by town halls.

Campaigners say more than 30 towns and cities are trying to implement a ban before UK-wide laws

are introduced in 2008. They hope to bring in local laws to prevent smokers

lighting up in restaurants, bars, shopping centres and work places. A total of 26 councils and 16 NHS primary healthcare trusts in North-East England are planning to set up a new

Office of Tobacco Control, which could usher in local bans, it was reported today.

Last year, leaders of London's 33 councils voted to apply to parliament for new city-wide laws

introducing restrictions in pubs, clubs and restaurants. However, the move is not being supported by the government, which favours national measures in three years' time.