Publicans are already preparing for the smoking ban - with many saying they can't wait for it to start.

The Red Cow, in Chesterton, is so supportive of the ban that its landlords have decided to turn the pub non-smoking six months early, from New Year's Day.

All pubs nationally have to ban smoking by law from July 1. Landlady Susan Sawyer, 46, who gave up smoking 23 years ago, said she hoped it would help those trying to quit to stick to their New Year's resolutions.

She said: "Customers have said, 'We can't wait until you do go non-smoking' - some have actually just given up.

"Some have said 'If we could not smoke in here we probably would give up'. We want people to be able to sit anywhere and eat and drink when they come to the pub.

"We have got such low ceilings and it does stink. I don't think it will harm trade, we will actually probably get more people in who want to eat."

She added there was a big garden at the pub where there was already a covered area for smokers. At the Bure Farm pub, in Lucerne Avenue, Bicester, staff are getting ready for the ban by drawing up plans for an all-weather garden area.

According to manager Russell Martin, it would have chairs, tables and heaters under a canopy in the garden. Mr Martin, whose pub is owned by Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries, said he had no worries about the ban.

He added: "A lot of my trade is restaurant-based. We have a big food trade so it may well end up helping us. Sometimes we struggle to find room in the no-smoking section. If it was by choice, I would go non-smoking now."

Bicester Town Council discussed the pub's application for planning permission on Wednesday.

Planning committee chairman Anthony Kempton said: "I think this is a sign of things to come. No doubt a lot of pubs will be doing this."

In July 2004, The Acorn Hungry Horse, in Pingle Drive, Bicester, became one of Oxfordshire's first non-smoking pubs.