A Scottish pub landlord who defied the smoking ban in public places in England was fined £500 today.

Hamish Howitt, 55, was also ordered to pay £2000 prosecution costs.

He had admitted flouting the smoking ban in public places in England.

Howitt, 55, who now lives in Blackpool, Lancashire, is the first publican in England to be convicted of breaching the legislation, which came into effect on July 1.

Sentencing him, District Judge Peter Ward told Howitt that his campaign was "silly, misguided and pointless".

The owner of the Happy Scots Bar left Blackpool Magistrates' Court vowing that he would continue to allow smokers to light up on his premises.