A GOLF club has become the first in the borough to ban smoking ahead of new legislation which comes into effect later this year.

Members of Harwood Golf Club are no longer allowed to smoke in the clubhouse - although they can still light up on the course itself.

The clubhouse ban has earned the golf club a silver clean air award by the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.

Club secretary, Ian Lund, said: "We decided to get a head start before the ban is introduced across England and Wales on July 1 and it hasn't had any effect on our bar sales.

"One of our regulars, who is a smoker, has even thanked us because he's smoking far less."

Smoking will be banned in enclosed public places, including pubs, clubs and private members' bars in July.

In Bolton 29.6 per cent of people smoke compared to a national average of 27 per cent, prompting The Bolton News to launch a Stub It Out campaign.

Last year MPs voted to introduce legislation to ban smoking in enclosed spaces.

Now, ahead of the ban, health bosses are hoping that many smokers will finally act to kick the habit.

During the first two months of this year Bolton's Stop Smoking Services dealt with 1,076 requests from people wanting help to give up - 300 of whom have now successfully quit smoking.

Adrian Butterworth, smoking cessation service manager, said: "Stopping smoking is the best thing that people can do to improve the quality and length of their lives."