THE government may have to introduce smoking "exclusion zones" around buildings before too long, a leading solicitor has warned.

Licensing and planning expert Lionel Fynn says the move may be the only answer as the new ban on smoking in public places will cause problems for the man and woman in the street as never before.

Speaking at the launch of a definitive DVD guide he has produced about the new law which comes in on July 1, Mr Fynn said the slogan England becomes smoke-free' is misleading.

"Actually, smoke is being driven out of public buildings and public places and into the street where people will be affected hugely.

"The problem is being moved, not removed."

He added: "Many people who have been able to make a conscious choice to avoid smoke in pubs, clubs and other places may now come face to face with it out in the open because they will have to run the gauntlet of groups of smokers congregating outside buildings and on the pavement."

"People think that July 1 is the end of the matter and everything will be sorted out.

"I don't think it will. There will be a number of entirely new problems to be addressed. The real fun will start on July 1 when we see what smokers want to do and where they want to do it."

Noise is likely to be an issue especially in residential areas, when smokers gather in groups outside premises in the evening.

Litter may also be another major headache.

Some local authorities are already concerned about the number of discarded cigarette butts on the streets and new legislation is proposed on this subject.

Smoke blowing back' inside premises is also likely to be an issue.

"There are by-laws prohibiting the drinking of alcohol in certain places and smoking could well be treated in the same way."

The video, produced by Mr Fynn in conjunction with Plato Video, examines these and other problems and is a practical guide to how the Act will work in practice, defences, penalties and how smokers can be accommodated.

It will be especially useful for operators of leisure facilities and licensed premises, employers' human resources and health and safety departments, local authorities, lawyers, police and public transport providers.

The DVD, which is available from Plato Video at 3 Poole Road, Bournemouth BH2 5QJ, for £23.50 inclusive of VAT, has contributions from six specialist lawyers from Horsey, Lightly, Fynn, on different aspects of the Act along with two members of the licensed trade, one of whom has premises in Scotland and Wales where the ban is already in effect.