THE manager of a popular meeting place has stubbed out smoking for good at his caf in Stourport.

Russell Millward, 42, who runs Rendez-Vous in Bridge Street, decided to take the initiative to ban smoking from January 1 following Government moves last year.

Cabinet ministers have now agreed on a partial smoking ban in pubs, which would only to apply to premises serving food.

Mr Millward, however, felt this was not enough and that England is lagging behind other countries such as Scotland and Northern Ireland, where a complete ban on smoking had been enforced.

He said: "It has been a thought of mine for quite some time but I decided to enforce the no-smoking rule from New Year's Day as I felt it was the right time.

"I have a holiday home over in Ireland and they have seen a complete ban in enclosed public spaces for some time now and it's become a much healthier and cleaner environment.

"Our caf offers Thai, Chinese, Cantonese food and fish and chips. Customers can eat in or take away and so far our decision has been warmly welcomed. We have only had one objection," he added.

Elsewhere across the country, other pubs and restaurants have taken the lead and decided on a complete ban.

Wetherspoons is one such chain to do so from May this year.