A ban on smoking around football pitches and play areas will be nearly impossible to enforce, a councillor has admitted.

Derwentside District Council's pipe-smoking portfolio holder for health, Councillor Walter Armstrong, said last night: "The police haven't got the manpower to cover this.

"We will be relying on the public to report what they see and our own workers, who will be working in the parks, to report people.

"It's going to be very hard to manage, but we're trying. It's nearly impossible to enforce, but it's worth trying.

He added: "I smoke a pipe myself, but I only smoke outside.

"I would love to see the new ban on smoking in restaurants extended to pubs, but it's up to the Government."

The district council has issued a total ban on smoking inside all of its premises and their surroundings, including car parks.

A spokesman for the authority said it was the first time in Britain that adults had been asked not to smoke around outdoor play areas.

Its hardline campaign, called Make Smoking History, could now be taken up elsewhere in the country.

The council has been awarded two Gold National Clean Air Awards for its policy.

The ban was introduced after consulting the public and council employees.

A survey found 93 per cent of people wanted smoking banned in play areas, and 89 per cent of employees were in favour of a total ban on council property.

Council leader Alex Watson said: ''It has taken less than a year from the initial proposal to going totally smoke free.

"I hope this will encourage other councils to follow our example."