WITH smoking banned in Blackburn shopping centre and the borough's market halls to coincide with National No Smoking Day yesterday, reporter BEN HEWES went to gauge public reaction.

BLACKBURN shopping centre is now smoke-free. Well, almost.

Yesterday was chosen by bosses at The Mall to launch its new, healthy policy, with large signs to alert shoppers.

The centre claims the ban has been a success and most people have followed the rules. But some smokers have said they are determined to light up -- ban or no ban.

When the Evening Telegraph visited on the first day of the rule change, three people were spotted smoking.

One of them, a 47-year-old Rishton woman who missed the warning signs, said: "I think if Blackburn tries to follow Accrington then they'll lose trade like Accrington has.

"I will be breaking the ban unless security throw me out!"

The Government plans to ban smoking in all enclosed public spaces, such as offices and restaurants, by 2010.

But a number of authorities, including Blackburn with Darwen, have already taken steps to ban the habit.

Accrington's Arndale Shopping Centre took a similar step last year but today campaigners from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) said the move was still "novel."

But it will mean staff at the centre can demand a person stubs out their cigarette -- or be ejected.

One non-smoker, a 37-year-old Darwen woman who asked not to be named, added: "A ban is good if it means I don't have to breath the smoke any more."

Janice Chambers, marketing manager for the centre, who has quit smoking to coincide with the start of the ban, said: "We are very pleased with how things are going. We look forward to creating a cleaner environment."

And she added: "Anyone smoking in The Mall will be asked to finish their cigarette and place the butt in a bin.

"However, once shoppers are familiar with the policy, we will be asking them to finish their cigarettes outside."