SMOKING has been an integral part of life at Accrington's Sydney Street Working Men's Club for decades.

Indeed, 75 per cent of the regulars smoke compared to around 25 per cent of the population as a whole.

One regular, Tony Coo, 50, of Accrington, who has been smoking for 25 years, said the ban was preventing people's freedom of choice.

He said: "My dad fought in the war and fought for people's freedom. This is being imposed on us without any consultation. We shouldn't be dictated to."

Judith Dawson, 57, who works behind the bar, said the ban will have an impact on the staff as well as customers.

She said: "I smoke as do a lot of the bar staff. Instead of having a quick smoke at the end of the bar they are now going to have to go outside which will impact on the other people working behind the bar."

Smoker Maureen Heap, 61, of Accrington, a regular at the club, said she usually goes out most nights but will now be stopping in.

She added: "I'm just going to end up buying a few cans and drinking in the house just so I can have a cigarette.

"It's a private club where people pay their membership. If they didn't want to come in because people were smoking then they wouldn't be members. I think it's ridiculous."

Irene Bradley, 61, who has been smoking since she was 13, gave up three weeks ago.

"I didn't do it because of the ban, I did it because I have asthma and my doctor told me to," she said.

"I now have a nicotine patch and use a puffer but why should the people who chose to smoke be forced outside?"

However Paula Smith, 37, of Accrington, said she "couldn't wait" for the ban to be imposed.

She added: "I have been waiting for this for a long time. Why should I have to inhale smoke when I don't even smoke? When I've been out I come home stinking of smoke and the next morning I feel ill."

Gerry Finch, 61, also of Accrington, added: "I think the Government have gone too far with this. I think they could have allowed venues the choice to have smoking rooms so people could have had the choice. It's going to have a big impact on businesses."