SMOKE-FREE pubs may be a pleasant state of affairs for non-smokers, but what effect is this going to have on our streets?

At present, people can sit in the pub, with drink in one hand and cigarette in the other. But, as of Sunday, July 1, smokers will have to go outside when they decide to light up.

Sitting in one Alnwick pub on Saturday, I couldn't help but notice the number of people smoking around me. So when the ban comes in does this mean that all of those smokers will go outside? If so, what trouble could this lead to and how will it look with a dozen people standing around outside on the streets?

A recent survey by The Publican magazine said that 44 per cent of people would be intimidated to go into a pub where smokers were standing outside the front door.

Customer Katherine Hornsby, 18, said: "I am worried about the trouble it may bring to the streets when people are outside smoking."

The Queen's Head, Alnwick, has responded to this and is planning to erect a special smoking area at the side of the premises before the legislation comes in. It will have a canopy and heaters and will be designed purely for smoking.

Inspector Rod Maclennan, of Alnwick Police, said he did not think smokers standing outside pubs would cause a problem.

"I think it will be the same as in Scotland and as far as I'm aware there hasn't been many problems. For this reason we will police the streets in the same way as we do now.

"We have applied for a Designated Public Place Order which is a discretionary power meaning that we can remove drink from anybody if we think it is for the best."

But he added: "I can understand that people drinking outside on the streets does not look nice and potentially could not be good for tourism.

"The police and publicans need to help each other out and I shall be holding a meeting with Alnwick publicans to discuss this issue."

Another potential trouble spot is litter. Will smoking outside mean an increase in dropped cigarette ends on our streets?

Gordon Thompson, 62, said: "I hope they provide somewhere better to get rid of cigarette ends so that we are not littering the streets."

Peter Wright, regional environmental health spokesman for tobacco control group FRESH, advised pubs how they can stop this.

He said: "There are a number of options available to pubs. Wall-mounted cigarette litter bins are one option. They cost around £80. Pubs that have them have proved to be successful at keeping the area outside tidy. Alternatively, a pub can make signs asking people to put their cigarette ends in bins inside the pub."

One pub which will encounter this problem is The George, Alnwick, which does not have a beer garden.

Tenant Christine Blair said: "We are going to put four chairs and two tables outside the pub and we are going to apply for planning permission to have bins on our walls. This could be difficult though as we are a listed building.