COUNCIL staff will carry out unannounced spot checks on bars and restaurants to enforce the smoking ban.

Local authorities have been given government cash to train new enforcement officers and raise awareness of the law change on July 1.

They are working on a shared countywide policy but some councils indicated they would be taking a tougher approach.

Officers dubbed "anti-smoking police" will have powers to enter premises undercover and issue on the spot £50 fines to smokers who light up in public places.

Southampton City Council has received £130,000 from the government.

It says it has 800 pubs, clubs and restaurants at "high risk" of breaching the law.

About 4,000 businesses will be covered by the legalisation.

But Liz Marsh, head of environmental health, pictured right, said enforcement would be a last resort.

She said the council proposed to take a "non- confrontational approach" around an awareness campaign which had led to a "high level of compliance" in Ireland and Scotland, where bans are in force.

But Mrs Marsh added: "Council officers may make unannounced visits to pubs, clubs and other premises.

"These enforcement visits will be based on risk and whether complaints about smoking have been received.

"Where possible the visits will be combined with other regulatory inspections."

Rob Heathcock, head of environment at Winchester City Council, insisted: "We will not be working undercover and snooping in pubs. If we get a complaint we will go and talk to the business."

Eastleigh Council said it would follow a similar line.

However, a spokesman for Fareham Council said it would be using its £49,000 to train ten officers on the new law.

The team would then be sent out to carry out spot checks.

"We want to ensure people have grasped the new law," a spokesman said.

Test Valley Council is employing a new enforcement officer with the £45,000 it gets from the government.

The council this week adopted a policy that staff would work closely with business to raise awareness. It said: "Prosecution and the use of fixed penalty notices will be used as a last resort when the seriousness of the situation warrants such an approach, for instance in cases of persistent flagrant breaches with non-co-operation and numerous complaints."

Elsewhere, such as in Nottingham and Liverpool, councils are planning to send out teams of officers in patrols.

Simon Clark, director of the smokers' lobby group Forest, said: "The idea of getting public officials to snoop on people is distasteful and disproportionate.

"It is like taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Smokers will abide by the law so it will be a complete waste of public money."

A series of seminars for businesses is being put on by Smoke Free Hampshire to offer advice on the changes.

The first will be held at The Rose Bowl in West End on March 1.

Two more will be held at the John Pounds Conference Centre in Portsmouth on March 6 and The Ark in Basing-stoke on March 14.

o To find out more visit www.smokefreehampshire.co.uk.