SMOKING could be banned in public across Europe, it has emerged.

The European Commission has called for a total ban across 27 countries - and warned it would legislate, if necessary, to turn the European Union into a "smoke-free zone".

Health bosses, including those in Bolton, have welcomed the news, saying it would drastically reduce killer diseases, such as lung cancer.

Deborah Collinson, of Bolton's Primary Care Trust, said: "This is great news. Italy, Ireland and Scotland have banned smoking and England, Wales and Northern Ireland will ban it this year.

"This is about protecting people's health and improving well-being and it's important to tackle this. Smoking is still the biggest cause of early death and ill-health, so any action to reduce it is very much welcomed."

A new report by the EC says laws drawn up by Brussels would impose an "enforceable basic level of protection" against the risks from passive smoking.

But it acknowledges that such a move would take time and "the end result could be difficult to predict".

Instead, member states are being asked to consider stepping up their own measures, as England will be from July 1, and ban smoking.

An EC spokesman said: "If there was support for the legislative route, and that remains to be seen, we would look at that option and we could bring in legislation under health and safety work provisions. That would cover the work environment, but would not necessarily cover all public spaces."