SMOKERS forced out of pubs are being hit with on-the-spot fines for dropping cigarette butts outside.

Fifteen people were fined £75 after Rochdale council chiefs ordered a clampdown following complaints from the public that smokers were using the pavement instead of ashtrays to stub out cigarettes.

Rochdale environment chief Wera Hobhouse said: "Since the ban on smoking in public places came into force last year, we have had a growing number of complaints about pub drinkers dropping their butts on the street after going outside for a smoke. Keeping the streets clean is one of the council's key priorities so we will not tolerate this kind of littering."

Other councils in Greater Manchester vary their approach to the problem. Manchester has adopted a `low-key' enforcement policy and has not been specifically targeting smokers outside pubs.

In Salford, where enforcement officers focus on places like Salford Shopping City, Swinton and Walkden high streets rather than pubs, there has been a 30 per cent rise in the number of fixed penalty notices issued since the smoking ban was introduced. A spokesman said the council was more focused on education than fines.

Trafford council has not been targeting pubs, preferring to focus on publicity campaigns, but Wigan, where the council has seen an increase in complaints, is talking to licensees about the litter problem.

Bolton and Tameside councils say they prefer to educate people about litter than punish them.

Smokers in Rochdale are more likely to be fined for dropping their cigarette butts than for smoking in a public place.

Between July and December, people caught lighting up in public were given a verbal ticking off.

But last month the council decided to harden their approach and issue formal written warnings. The move follows 60 complaints about people lighting up in pubs, takeaways, markets, bus stations, shopping centres and taxi ranks. It means smokers will be given a last chance before being fined. If they continue to flout the law they face £50 fines. Businesses that fail to prevent smoking can face fines of £2,500.

Bolton pub boss Nick Hogan has been defying the smoking ban and has become a frontman for `smokers' liberties'. The landlord, who is due in court on January 28 on five charges of failing to prevent smoking on his premises and four of obstruction, said litter fines for smokers were `absurd'.

He said: "Fining smokers for dropping butts outside pubs is yet another attack on people's liberties.

"You may as well smoke in the pub and pay £50 than go outside of the pub, drop the fag end and pay £75. This is also a sly cash generator - we already pay council tax to keep the streets clean."

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