REBEL landlord Nick Hogan has vowed to launch an appeal against his conviction for breaching the smoking ban.

Hogan, former licensee of The Swan Hotel and Barristers in Bolton town centre, was found guilty of four counts of failing to prevent people from smoking in the two pubs.

He was fined £3,000 for the offences - £750 each - and ordered to pay more than £7,000 in costs following a trial at Bolton Magistrates Court.

The 40-year-old was cleared of four charges of obstructing council officers and one count of allowing people to smoke in the pubs because he was not in the premises at the time the offence was taking place.

Hogan, who left Bolton in November last year after selling his lease and now runs The Swan With Two Necks in Chorley, said: "I won almost 60 per cent of my case so why am I being charged for 100 per cent of the costs?

"I want to appeal because enforcement officers have no powers to force people to put cigarettes out and did exactly what I did - told people it was illegal to smoke. I certainly think we could win an appeal."

Bolton Magistrates Court heard how Hogan, who represented himself in court, claimed he had done everything he could to explain to customers that smoking in enclosed public places was illegal following the introduction of the Health Act on July 1 last year.

He told the court he displayed no smoking signs and left letters on tables explaining the new legislation to customers, but had given them to "right to choose".

Staff also told anyone lighting up in either Barristers or The Swan that their actions were illegal and that they could face a £50 fixed penalty notice or a prosecution.

At Monday's hearing, District Judge Timothy Devas dismissed Hogan's claims and said he had committed a "flagrant breach" of the law.