DEEPDALE has been declared a smoke free zone, with the seating areas of the Sir Tom Finney stand being declared a no smoking stand for the first time for the 2002/2003 season.

This begins with Saturday's home game against Crystal Palace.

Chief Executive Tony Scholes said: "The majority of fans have been calling for us to declare the stands no smoking areas and we think that the decision to ban smoking from the Sir Tom Finney stand is a good one on both health and safety grounds.

"As a football club we should be setting an example and this decision does that."

Fans will still be able to smoke on the concourse areas, but the match will be smoke free.

This will be vigorously enforced by the stewards at Deepdale and all supporters are asked to help the club with this new rule.