A BAN on smoking in public places is expected to be rolled out across the North-East, it emerged last night.

Many of the region's councils are lining up to support smoking bans in pubs, workplaces and restaurants.

Following last week's decision to ban smoking in public places in Liverpool, taken by the Liberal Democrat-run city council, Newcastle is poised to become the first of the region's councils to follow suit.

The city council, which is also run by the Liberal Democrats, is being asked to promote Newcastle as a smoke-free city.

Members will vote on the motion at a council meeting on Wednesday, November 3.

The council is one of many considering following Liverpool's lead by clamping down on smoking in pubs, clubs, restaurants and public buildings, in an attempt to put pressure on the Government to introduce a national ban.

Leaders of the London boroughs voted last week to put forward a private Bill in Parliament to try to push through a local ban.

The Bill is being drafted by the Association of Local Government and has to be submitted to Parliament by the end of next month if it has a chance of being included in the next legislative session.

Newcastle council's social care and health executive member, Councillor Doreen Huddart, said last night that the authority welcomed any legislation or bylaws to make cities "cleaner, healthier and safer places".

She said: "We are working with our partners in the city health authority, and in the voluntary and business sectors, towards making Newcastle a smoke-free city, which means smoke-free workplaces.

"As a council, reducing the effects of smoking and passive smoking is one of the single-most important steps we can take to improve and protect the health of the city's residents.

"Action plans are in place to implement these policies and we are working towards approval by world health organisations to achieve healthy city status for Newcastle."

The council already has a general ban on smoking in all its buildings, depots and vehicles, apart from the civic centre banqueting suite.

Other councils in the North-East are watching with interest as they consider moves to implement smoke-free status.

Many support a ban, but are likely to wait until a Government White Paper on public health comes out next month before they take further action.

Durham City Council is considering encouraging businesses to become no-smoking. Its own premises are smoke-free.

Several councils in the region have banned smoking from leisure centres, including Middlesbrough, which made the cafe and bar area at the Rainbow Leisure Centre, in Coulby Newham, smoke-free only hours after the Liverpool vote.

Shopping centres throughout the region are also becoming no-go areas for smokers.

Eldon Square, in Newcastle city centre, barred smokers last week after lobbying the city council and the Government for a by-law.

Smoking has been illegal in the Republic of Ireland since March, but the British Government has so far been reluctant to follow suit.

Last week, Health Secretary John Reid said Britain would not copy what others had done and would have to find its own answers to the smoking problem.