The Wetherspoon pubs in Bradford could be going totally smoke-free as early as May this year, it has emerged.

The chain has said it may include its two city-centre pubs - Titus Salt and the new Lloyds Bar - in the first trial starting in May, a year ahead of its all-out nationwide ban in May 2006.

The pub group took the lead in the industry, saying it will ban smoking two years ahead of the Government's planned ban in public places.

Councillor Ghazanfer Khaliq, Chairman of Bradford Coun-cil's environment improvement committee, said he wants Bradford to be in the first wave of pubs to ban it smoking.

Coun Khaliq said: "I shall be asking Wetherspoons to do that and I would hope they will do it. It is the only way forward if we are to tackle the appalling smoking-related illness and death figures in this city.

"The sooner we take this seriously the better."

He said he has asked council officers to draw up a report into the implications of banning smoking in public places across the city and to report back to his committee.

He also wants a full discussion at a council meeting and a free vote for councillors on whether to follow Liverpool's lead and ban smoking in all public places.

A spokesman for Wether-spoons said the pubs in the first phase starting in May this year had been selected to give a broad sweep across the country.

So far pubs in London, Aberdeen, Newcastle, Glasgow, Bristol, Birmingham and Nottingham look set to go smoke-free in May this year.

But now Bradford could be added to the list.

A Wetherspoons spokesman said any request to extend the list would be considered.

"If the request comes our way then we shall consider it, of course.

"The first wave of pubs were chosen for being good for food and for families and to give a good spread across the country.

"But we would be open to any further requests for anywhere in the country if there are good reasons."

The Telegraph & Argus is calling for an outright ban on smoking in our Clear the Air campaign in a bid to improve the city's health.

Figures show one in three deaths of people over 35 in Bradford are smoking-related.

But the Stop Smoking service in Bradford has said early indications are that the number of quitters this year is high.

Di Woodall, from the service, said Wetherspoons' decision to go totally non-smoking in May 2006 was "wonderful."

She said the company should be complimented and the move would protect staff and customers.