GWENT Wetherspoons bosses welcomed their company's decision to ban smoking in its pubs.

One Newport pub is to start the ban in four months, with others following in May 2006.

The Tom Toya Lewis, in Newport, is the only Wetherspoons pub out of nine in Gwent which is to be smoke free from this May.

Ryan West, manager, said the ban would probably get a mixed response but in time it would work.

Simon Gale, manager of The Sirhowy, Blackwood, said his pub already had two non-smoking areas and welcomed the complete ban.

Wetherspoons, which has pioneered non-smoking areas in its bars and lounges, said it wanted to ban smoking two years ahead of government legislation.

This announcement comes one month after the first no-smoking bar opened in Newport.

The Louisville, in High Street, Newport, opened its doors in December without a cigarette in sight.

Drinkers gave their views yesterday.

Robert Small, 49, of Pill, who drinks in the Tom Toya Lewis, said that although he is a smoker the ban is a good idea.

Stephen Jones, 44, from Pill, said: "I don't really agree with a ban. I think there should be smoking zones and no-smoking zones."

Angelina Martin, 32, a cleaner from St Julians, said: "I think it is a good idea even though I am a smoker.

"Smoke does travel and you can't really get away from it, and if I go for a meal I don't like people smoking around me."

Mark Ceeney, a 43-year-old non-smoker from Bettws, said: "I think it is a great idea and they should have done it a long time ago."

Levi Mazey, 48, of Pontllanfraith, who has smoked all his adult life, said the ban would be a bad idea.

He said: "I think they could have had non-smoking sections rather than banning smoking completely. It could put people off."

Hilary Stebbings, 57, from Pontllanfraith, who has never smoked, said she was pleased with the ban.

"I come in about once a week and as I am asthmatic it will make a big difference to me," she said.