By RYAN MARTIN

PRO-smoking groups in England have been outraged by the wide-ranging nature of the new smoking ban which will include all uncovered bus and train platforms and stations.

A general smoking ban came into force in England at the beginning of July, but it was the extensive nature of the ban to include all uncovered stations and footbridges that particularly provoked the ire of the pro-choice lobby.

Pro-smoking choice lobby group, Forest, are one group that have recently complained about the ban. "As far as railway platforms are concerned, there is not the slightest health risk from tobacco - not even the most extreme person would say that," a Forest spokesman said.

"It is clearly unnecessary to ban smoking on platforms. I'm sure that railway staff have got better things to do than confront smokers"

Uncovered bus and train platforms in Northern Ireland have been included in the new smoking ban since it came into place on April 30.

At the time Translink reacted quickly to the ban with several new regulations and help for smokers.

As well as the original smoking bans on buses and trains, Translink added all networks including offices and property to the ban.

In addition to this, the back of some 800,000 bus and rail tickets issued each week have contained top tips on how to kick the habit.

The Health and Safety Manager of Translink Granville Lavin is optimistic about the changes. "With 3,500 employees and over 75 million passenger journeys made each year, Translink is ideally placed to reach lots of smokers who want to quit, and who could use a helping hand.

"We are also keen to support those passengers who wish to travel in smoke-free environments and therefore are extending our ban to platforms, which ordinarily could be regarded as outdoors."

The smoking ban isn't just affecting a few people, as research shows. New research by the Ulster Cancer Foundation has found that more than one in four adults (26 per cent) in NI smoke.

The new smoking ban is now in place all over the British Isles. England became the last of the home countries to join a smoke-free British Isles when they implemented the ban on July 1.

It looks like the problem won't be solved right away, but for the 74 per cent of non-smokers in NI the ban has literally been a breath of fresh air.