SMOKERS have been told to stop lighting up outside shops in an area of Weston after being forced out of the town's pubs and clubs

SMOKERS have been told to stop lighting up outside shops in an area of Weston after being forced out of the town's pubs and clubs. Leslie Trembath, who runs a computer repair shop in Orchard Street, has also given signs to other traders along the same road in an effort to stop smokers 'loitering outside putting off customers'.Mr Trembath, who runs L&S South West opposite Weston Working Men's Club, says the problem started after the ban on smoking in enclosed public places came into force on July 1.The decision has resulted in large numbers of smokers out in the streets of Weston especially on weekend evenings.He said: "Bad weather has meant smokers take cover when they're having a puff and punters from the club opposite like to use our shop porch."I decided to put up signs after opening up the shop in the morning to find at stank of smoke. People don't like it and don't want to push past a bunch of smokers to do their shopping. They'll just go somewhere else."At a Working Men's Club committee meeting on Monday, chairman Mike Palfrey said: "It's unfortunate because we have no land where we can ask people to smoke."We have asked our doorman to move people on if he sees them smoking in porches since we received a complaint. But it is a problem for all pubs in Weston."Other traders along Orchard Street said people smoking in the street were not causing any problems. However, not everyone is happy with the change in the law.Louise Davies, who owns The White Hart pub in Palmers Row, said: "We asked our customers before the ban came into force and found that 85 per cent of them smoke. I think people should be able to choose if they want to go into a smoking pub or not.