The introduction of a smoking ban in the workplace and enclosed public areas such as bars can encourage people to smoke less in their own home.

That is the finding of a new study by Cancer Research, which says its investigations in Ireland have indicated the ban there has not resulted in an increase in people lighting up in their home.

In the charity's survey, one in five people who pursue the habit in Ireland, where a ban is in place, said they actually smoked less since the introduction of the legislation in 2004.

Furthermore, just six per cent of the 2,000 respondents said they smoked more at home after the ban, with 71 per cent saying the law had had no effect on their habits.

Professor Gerard Hastings, director of Cancer Research UK's centre for tobacco control at the University of Stirling, claimed his study had shown there was little downside to a ban.

"This finding echoes the experiences of other countries and places that have gone smoke-free. But it also just makes common sense," he said.

"Public support for the ban in Ireland is strong and awareness that second-hand smoke kills is high."

Opponents of the ban, which comes into effect in England from July 1st, had feared restrictions on smoking in pubs and clubs might drive smokers indoors, potentially causing harm to children and non-smokers in the family home.

Commenting on today's research, Maura Gillespie of the British Heart Foundation (BHF) called the findings "excellent news".

"We hope that smokers respond similarly to the forthcoming ban in England, for the good of their health, and the health of their families," she said.

"The best response is to use the change in the law as the carrot smokers need to help them give up, not as a stick forcing them to take their habit into their homes, particularly when it would put the health of children at risk."

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