The days of sitting in a pub with a pint in one hand and a cigarette in the other are a thing of the past after smoking was outlawed from enclosed public places yesterday.

As from 6am on Sunday the national smoking ban came into effect.

The previous day the regular clientele of The Shoulder of Mutton, in Kirkgate, Bradford, savoured their last chance to take a drag over a lunch-time drink.

Swirling smoke rose from tables in every corner of the pub where about 80 per cent of all customers light up.

A cigarette vending machine next to the wooden bar was kept company by a cluster of gents sipping ale between puffs from cigarettes.

Behind the bar, on a ledge next to the spirits, written in chalk, was a countdown - one day of smoking left.

Paul Corke, manager of The Shoulder of Mutton, is a smoker of 27 years and is philosophical about the ban.

"I'm glad they're bringing it in because it's too easy to light up when you can smoke wherever you want.

"The pub will certainly be cleaner and it'll smell better. It's a sign of the times, it's not fashionable to smoke anymore. It will be a pain to enforce it at first. When people get drunk they automatically light up."

He said anyone who disobeys the ban will be warned first, given a final warning if they persist and will be barred if they have to be asked a third time. Individuals can be fined a fixed penalty of £50 for smoking in smoke-free premises or, if the case is prosecuted and they are convicted, fined up to £200.

The manager of a pub could be fined a fixed penalty of £200 for failing to display no smoking' signs, and up to £2,500 for failing to stop someone from smoking.

Among the Saturday customers was smoker Jack Cockson, 64, of Four Lane Ends.

"It's taking away my human rights, non-smokers should go elsewhere if they don't like it - it's persecution," he said.

Smoker Peter Hughes, 40, of Sandy Lane, said: "The ban's a disgrace. The Government's going to lose a lot of money in tobacco taxes and where is it going to make up the shortfall?"

David Simpson, 62, of Barkerend, Bradford only smokes over a pint.

"Public houses are social centres and this is going to see a lot of them close. People will stay at home to drink and smoke where they want."

David Wilson, 60, of Wyke, Bradford, quit smoking 30 years ago. He said: "I'll be heartily glad when the ban comes in, I'm sick of the smell of it on my clothes." A return to the establishment yesterday - and the pub was smokeless. It was still busy but with people regularly taking a jaunt to the beer garden at the back of the premises which has space for about 50 people and has a seating area with a roof.

Pete Lister, 40, of Clayton, Bradford, was sitting there having a smoke.

"It's only going to work for pubs with proper shelters like this. I haven't been smoking any less since I got here today," he said.

Barman, smoker Bill Thomas, 42, of Holme Wood, said: "All the smokers keep coming out here and it's mostly non-smokers inside. It hasn't effected me yet but because of work I'll probably end up smoking a bit less."

Michael Shaw, 47, of Shipley, is a smoker. He said: "I feel as though I've got used to the ban already, because I'm so used to not smoking in shops, restaurants, planes and public transport."

Non-smoker Derek Deacon, 74, of Ravenscliffe, Bradford, said: "It smells better, there's new faces in and there's no ashtrays full of ash. I don't think my friends hopping out for a cigarette has changed the atmosphere at all."

Pub manager Mr Corke said: "It's early days but everyone is obeying the ban. I expect the test will be later in the evening when they've had a few more beers and they automatically go for the cigarettes."

e-mail: ben.barnett @bradford.newsquest.co.uk