Smoking in taxis has been banned by Preston City Council, although if you're caught breaking the rule you won't be fined.

The ban will come into force on Wednesday, March 1, and is designed to protect the city's 700 Hackney Carriage and private hire car drivers and passengers from the harmful effects of smoke

The move comes after Parliament passed laws to ban smoking in all enclosed public places last week, and also follows smoking being outlawed in all council buildings in November 2005.

Under the rules cash fines will not be imposed, but drivers will be held responsible for any breaches and may face losing their taxi licence if caught breaking the rule themselves or allowing passengers to more than once in a 12-month period.

Councillor John Browne, chairman of the Taxi and Miscellaneous Sub Committee, said: "We want to protect both taxi drivers and passengers from the harmful effects of breathing in second hand smoke."

He said most people are aware of the dangers of smoking and nationally about 600 workers die every year from smoking related diseases.

Keith McNicholas, secretary of Preston Hackney Carriage Association, added: "While we accept that not all drivers and passengers may be totally happy, under the current climate of smoking being banned in the workplace, it is the only way forward."

Bob Horman of Millers Taxis, and a member of the Private Hire Operators Forum, said he appreciated it might not be popular in the beginning but the vast majority would understand it was a necessary step.

A council spokesman added: "Although neither passengers nor drivers will face fines if anyone is caught smoking in the vehicle, the driver could receive penalty points under the council's existing scheme for dealing with breaches of the taxi licensing laws."

Drivers can be issued with 12 points for a variety of offences, and if they receive 20 points within a year they would be hauled into front of the Taxi and Miscellaneous Sub Committee for consideration of their suitability to hold a licence.