BURNLEY fans will be able to light up in designated smoking areas set to be trialed at Turf Moor before the end of the season.

Bosses at the club are looking at implementing the experiment after new chief executive Lee Hoos held meetings with fan groups.

Under the plans fans could be let out of the James Hargreaves stand at half time into a designated area to have a cigarette, although it is understood there are no plans to try the scheme in other areas of the ground at the moment.

Smoking has been outlawed at football grounds since July 2007.

Mr Hoos said: “One of the suggestions that came out of the meeting was to try and create designated smoking areas.

“We are therefore going to trial certain designated smoking areas, which are effectively enclosed outside the ground. We will do all we can to help create these areas outside the ground, but it’s important that supporters adhere to the rules inside the stadium and do not smoke.”

A number of other clubs have tried similar schemes to allow supporters to smoke, and prevent them from smoking illegally inside the ground, in areas such as the toilets.

Peter Pike, chairman of the Clarets Trust, said supporters groups such as the trust had worked with the club on the proposals.

He said: “We have been involved in discussions with Lee Hoos about it. We are prepared to give it a trial. You can’t smoke in football grounds, but it is a very difficult piece of legislation and is difficult to enforce.

“As far as I am aware the club has identified two designated areas at either end of the James Hargreaves stand, so it won’t help anybody who smokes in the Bob Lord or Jimmy Mac stands.

“It is worth trying though, it is one of the biggest issues football clubs up and down the country face.

“Lots of fans smoke in the toilets at the moment, which is a fire risk, and can also cause problems for asthma sufferers, with smoke in confined spaces.

“It is the good the club are looking at it, Lee Hoos is a new chief executive and he has engaged with the fans and has listened to the ideas, and is willing to give this a go.

“If it works then great if not they can try something else.”