Hamish Howitt will be the first landlord to involve solicitors in the smoking ban across Britain and Northern Ireland as it was found that the consumption of tobacco occurred on seven occasions at his pub.

The Happy Scots pub in Blackpool will be the first establishment to face the courts after breaching the smoking ban

Mr Howitt is due in court on August 1st after Blackpool Council issued a summons for seven separate counts of breaching new smoking legislation.

Councillor Henry Mitchell, chair of Blackpool Council's Licensing Committee, said: "We can confirm that the council has issued legal proceedings against Mr Howitt in relation to failure to prevent smoking in a smoke-free premises. The summonses alleging seven separate offences were served by council public protection officers."

It seems that Mr Howitt flouted the ban deliberately by allowing smoking on his premesis and calling Blackpool Council a "bunch of headless chickens". Yet the landlord will not be laughing if he is found guilty as he will face a fine of £2,500.

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