PUB landlords could be prosecuted for allowing customers to smoke OUTSIDE their bars.

Police want to cut down on the large groups of drinkers who gather on pavements next to pubs and clubs after they were banned from lighting up inside.

Officers say the smokers can pose an `environmental hazard' by blocking the pavement, creating too much noise and increasing the potential for trouble.

They suggest landlords allow no more than 15 people to smoke outside their premises at any one time. The latest anti-smoking drive comes four months after a nationwide ban on anyone lighting up inside public buildings and work places.

But landlords say the new proposal would be impossible to enforce. One bar owner said it was `absolutely ludicrous'.

Any pub which is reported for creating an environmental hazard can be inspected by council officials and face prosecution if the landlord fails to act.

Staff at Night And Day on Oldham Street, Manchester, have placed notices on the door warning that only 10 people are allowed to stand outside and smoke at a time.

It is understood the bar received a visit by environmental health officers following complaints from local residents. However, the council said it had no record of any contact with the bar. Police raised the issue of smoking outside bars at a stormy meeting with the Manchester Pub and Club Network (MPCN) - which represents more than 500 landlords.

Sgt Gareth Parkin, from the City Safe team, said: "We are working with pubs, clubs and bars to offer information and advice about crime prevention and safety. We want to come up with ideas for how best to manage crowds who gather outside pubs and clubs to smoke. Our aim is to assist the licensees."

Phil Burke, of the MPCN, acknowledged that pub landlords would have to address the problem. But he said many were opposed to yet more regulations.

He said: "When the idea to limit smokers outside to about 15 was first suggested it got quite heated."

One Manchester city centre landlord, who did not want to be named, said: "It's ridiculous. The only way we would be able to limit numbers smoking outside is by holding people in venues against their will, which could cause a riot."

A council spokesman said: "We would certainly respond to any complaints or concerns we receive about crowds gathering outside licensed premises.

"We have not set limits for the number of people allowed to smoke outside licensed premises and we work closely with pub and club managers, the vast majority of whom manage their premises very well."

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