SIR - Re A Kayel on the smoking ban (T&A, December 1), I couldn't agree more.

Ever since the ban started, things began to change in our local. Instead of sitting around in the smoky, friendly atmosphere of the bar sharing stories of the day's events and helping one another with odd crossword clues, we non-smokers were reduced to a miserable two or three solitary, bored drinkers.

So, naturally, we took our beers out to the garden and our friends and quite frankly had a lovely summer.

Since then it's all gone completely downhill. I used to call in every teatime for two or three hours, but now there really is no point.

The only company available is the poor barmaid (who's reading a book) unless I wrap up and stand outside in the pouring rain with the ever-decreasing circle of my old drinking pals.

As for our working men's club (the only affordable hostelry for most of us pensioners), no more cosy afternoons reminiscing over a game of dominoes, gone are the Sunday cribbage knockouts followed by hot roast tatties.

With an average age of 70-plus most of us probably wouldn't see next summer.

Finally, to quote licensees' president David Haigh (T&A, December 4), "If this no smoking ban was to make room for the non-smokers, then where are they all?" I'm here, I'm bored and I'm "thoroughly fed up".

R Ackroyd, Main Street, Bingley