A leading pub chain with a string of outlets across the district has called time on smokers by announcing plans for a total ban on smoking in its pubs.

The ban will come into effect in May next year and will see smoking outlawed in all 650 branches across the country.

The non-smoking policy is being brought in after fears from bosses that non-smoking customers are staying away due to pubs being too smoky.

Wetherspoons owns pubs in Cleckheaton, Keighley, Bingley and Shipley as well as the Sir Titus Salt and The Turls Green bar in Bradford city centre.

Wetherspoons pubs in Bradford have already been experimenting with nonsmoking areas in their pubs.

The £1.8 million Turls Green in Centenary Square, part of Wetherspoons' Lloyds No.

One chain, already operates a ban on smoking in 75 per cent of its premises during the day.

Manager Joe Blencowe said: "As someone who works in the industry I think it's a step forward. I am definitely in support of the move.

"We have both smoking and non-smoking staff here and none of them seem particularly put out by the ban.

"As a city-centre bar that serves food I do not think that the move will have an adverse effect on trade. Perhaps there will be an initial drop-off in customers but they will be replaced by people who had previously stayed away due to the smoke."

The news has boosted the Telegraph & Argus Clear the Air campaign, which calls for a ban on smoking in enclosed places. The T&A launched the campaign after figures showed one in three deaths of people aged over 35 in Bradford is smoking-related.

Di Woodhall, of the Bradford Stop Smoking Centre at Leeds Road Hospital, said: "The news is absolutely wonderful. I think Wetherspoons should be complimented for taking this move which will protect their staff as well as their customers.

"People who work in the hospitality industry have as much right as any other worker to be protected from breathing in second-hand smoke."

A spokesman for anti-smoking group ASH (Action on Smoking and Health), welcomed the announcement, saying: "This is great news for Wetherspoons staff as well as the public. Wetherspoons are acting in advance of the rest of the industry. "

Last year, the Government announced plans to impose a sweeping ban on smoking in public places. The White Paper on Public Health includes restrictions on smoking in licensed premises by the end of 2008.

If you want to quit smoking then you can call the NHS Smoking helpline on 0800 1690169.