Employers are being warned they could face fines of up to £1,000 if they do not display correct no smoking' signs once the ban comes into force.

The smoking ban starts on Sunday, July 1, and Bradford Council is advising businesses to get a head start on making sure their premises comply.

The law requires every workplace and enclosed public place to display no smoking signs, which must be a minimum size of A5, accompanied by a no smoking symbol and displayed together with the words No Smoking. It is against the law to smoke in these premises'.

Existing signs must be replaced if they do not conform to these regulations. And in buildings where people do not traditionally smoke, such as churches and mosques, signs must also be displayed.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, the executive member for environment and culture, said: "Bradford Council is enforcing the ban and wants to make sure businesses are prepared before the smoking ban comes into force, so they don't end up paying the price."

Businesses face a £200 on-the-spot penalty or a maximum fine of £1,000 if their no smoking signs are not displayed correctly.

The Local Government Association, which represents more than 400 councils in England and Wales, fears the ban will result in up to 25 tonnes a day more cigarette litter.

The LGA warns that street cleaners will need to concentrate on areas outside pubs and clubs in the months following July.

According to the environmental charity Encams 122 tonnes of cigarette litter is dropped every day across the UK.

Richard Wixey, the Council's strategic director of environment and neighbourhoods, said: "We have had an anti-smoking litter campaign for some months now and we have an environmental marketing officer who brings people's attention to this problem. Most workplaces have been smoke-free for some time.

"All the new litter bins we order have stub out sections because we expect people to smoke on the street, when the ban comes in."

Ian Bairstow, head of waste management, said: "We are expecting more cigarette butts as a result of the smoking ban, because more people will be smoking outside.

"We have arranged cigarette stub-out panels on all new litter bins in the district and we expect businesses to be responsible and provide facilities outside their own buildings.

"We don't expect it to be a big problem and we urge smokers to use our free portable ashtrays or put their butts in the bin after they have been stubbed out - otherwise they could face a £75 fine for litter."