A pub's plans to put up canopies on its patio to provide shelter for smokers when the no-smoking ban comes into force has run into trouble with town councillors.

The Boundary House pub in Oxford Road, Abingdon, is gearing up for the smoking ban which begins in July and is seeking planning permission for alterations costing £25,000 to its patio area.

It wants to put up four cone-shaped green canopies and make changes to a porch and flat roof. The Vale of White Horse District Council, has recommended approval.

But Abingdon Town Council has lodged an objection on the grounds that it would be out of keeping with the neighbouring area, part of which falls just outside the Northcourt conservation area.

Chairman of the town council planning committee Martin Smith said: "We understand the reasons why the pub wants to put up the canopies, but feel they will be totally out of place and would have a harmful visual impact on the area.

"Maybe some alternative arrangement could be made, but at the moment we're not happy and we don't like to idea of patio heaters that are very wasteful of energy."

Northcourt ward councillor Alan Bryden also opposes the pub's plans.

He said: "There are planning guidelines that should be adhered in an area so close to a conservation area. The cone-shaped canopies would be completely out of character with this area and would be seen when you approach the pub along the main road."

The issue will be discussed at Monday's meeting of the Vale council's development control committee.

Planning officers say as the patio area is set well back from the main road refusal could not be justified. The development would be no more than what already existed.

Nick Crawford, who runs the Greene King pub, said: "This development is important to the pub because we will have to provide somewhere for our smoking customers to go when the ban come into operation. I can't see it will harm the look of the area."

Mr Crawford added: "My worry is that if we don't get planning permission then the company will put up smaller, ugly shelter-type structures which would not need planning permission."