SMOKING will be banned from all council-owned leisure venues across Darlington from next week.

The borough council is introducing the ban from Monday, ahead of Government plans to make all public places smoke-free by the end of 2007.

The ban will mean smokers are forbidden from lighting up in the Civic Theatre, the Arts Centre, the Dolphin Centre, Eastbourne Leisure Centre and Stressholme Golf Club.

Smoking is already banned in most council buildings and the latest move will extend the ban to cover bar areas run by the authority.

Councillor Lee Vasey, cabinet member for leisure, said: "Exposure to second-hand smoke represents a life-threatening risk, and employees and customers deserve to be protected.

"It is important that people working in our leisure venues and those visiting them have a clean environment in which to enjoy themselves. We hope that people will notice a difference."

The move has been welcomed by health officials in the town, who have called on other premises to follow the council's lead.

Darlington Primary Care Trust's stop smoking specialist, Darcy Brown, said: "This is an excellent step forward for the health of employees and people who visit these council venues and I would encourage our local businesses to follow suit.

"Second-hand smoke kills three times more workers than industrial accidents and more hospitality workers die from tobacco smoke inhalation than die in the line of duty in the police or fire brigade."