PUBLIC places in Preston could soon be made smoke-free zones after people all over the country have been complaining about the dirty habit.

The Citizen has been flooded with e-mails during this, National Breathe Easy Week.

The question is: should smoking be banned in public places?

Preston North End chief executive Peter Church agrees it's a problem but doesn't want to discriminate against the addicts. "We now have over one third of seating in the Tom Finney Stand for non-smokers. It's important to strike a balance and I think that we have got it about right."

"There are areas for smokers and non-smokers," added Mr Church: "The club is happy with that and has no intention of changing."

The issue was raised after smoking was stopped from the seating areas at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium and in the Bolton market place shopping centre.

Carol Lowde, manager of St George's shopping centre, said she'd consider making the new £23 million complex smoke free.

"We have to keep our options open but I'd like to see the non-smoking facility in shops extended through to the centre."

Smoking on buses is an increasing problem but Preston Bus managing director Peter Bell believes it's impossible to crack down on it.

He said: "We already have a ban on all mini and single decker buses. We request people who sit on the top of double decker buses not to smoke but it's difficult to stop them."

Tell us your views. Call 01772-255522 or e-mail us at kjack@newsquest.co.uk

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.