A PUB landlord has vowed to flout smoking ban laws and will refuse to force punters to stub it out in his pub.

Nick Hogan, owner of The Swan in Churchgate, Bolton town centre, says he is prepared to face court in a bid to allow his regulars to continue smoking.

Last week the Government announced the smoking ban, which will ban smokers from lighting up in enclosed public places, will come into force on July 1, next year.

Mr Hogan said: "I will be breaking the law. This is about people's freedoms and their rights, which are being taken away by this ban.

"I'm not going to tell a pensioner that he has to stand outside in the rain to smoke.

"How can the Government ban a legal product when they can't even be bothered to get illegal drugs off the streets? This is my pub, I pay the bills, not Tony Blair or the Government, so I will be ignoring the ban and if they want to take me to court, they can."

For failing to comply with the smoking ban, Mr Hogan could face a fine of up to £2,500 every time someone lights up in his pub.

MPs voted with a massive majority for a ban on smoking in all enclosed public places, including pubs, clubs and private members bars, in February.

In Bolton, 29.6 per cent of people smoke, compared to a national average of 27 per cent.

The Bolton News launched its Stub It Out campaign when these shocking statistics were revealed, calling for a ban on smoking in public places.