The BBC's Daniel Sandford: "The Department of Health is giving companies more time to make changes"

Ministers have granted concessions to the tobacco industry, to allow some promotions to be phased out over a longer period.

However the Tobacco Manufacturers Association (TMA) said the concessions would not affect its High Court challenge to the ban, due to start on Monday.

The TMA claims the proposed ban is illegal because it is based on a directive currently under consideration by the European Court of Justice.

Health Secretary Frank Dobson said the concessions were a "sensible compromise" between the health benefits of the ban and "legitimate concerns" of the tobacco industry.

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He said: "We have sought to bring in this ban in a way that both maximises the health benefits to be gained and minimises the impact on business.

"The transitional arrangements prove that we have listened to genuine concerns."

The blanket ban, originally announced in June, had been due to take effect from 10 December, outlawing all forms of advertising, apart from price lists and display material in shops.

Anti-smoking campaigners Ash: "advertisers have had long enough"

The concessions will now delay elements of the ban by up to three years.

The most visible advertising on posters, billboards and in the press will go in December, as originally planned.

But the new timetable for other changes is:

• March 2000 - final deadline for retailers to ensure their outlets comply

• July 2000 - end of direct marketing campaigns and in-pack promotion schemes

• July 2001 - companies which shared branding with tobacco products must ensure their branding is distinct

• July 2002 - ban comes into force on tobacco advertising within in-flight magazines on flights operated by non-EU airlines and on EU publications sold in the UK.

A spokesman for the TMA said: "The latest government concessions change nothing.

"We are still proceeding with our court case against the government because we still believe that they are acting illegally and should await the European court judgement before implementing any restrictions."

The anti-smoking group, Ash, gave a mixed response to the change.

Ash's director, Clive Bates: "There is no need to give them any extra consessons"

Ash's director, Clive Bates, said: "I don't know why the government is bending over backwards to appease the tobacco industry with these concessions.

"Tobacco advertisers have been on notice since Labour published its manifesto in 1997 and have already had more than enough transitional time."

But Mr Bates added: "We should still keep in mind and applaud the approaching end of tobacco advertising."

Evan Harris said more young people would now become hooked on smoking

Professor Gordon McVie, director general of the Cancer Research Campaign, was angry at the delay.

He said: "Frankly, I am extremely disappointed. I do not understand why they have done this and I cannot believe the Tobacco Manufacturers Association had any possible argument to put forward for a delay that could carry any weight.

Dr Evan Harris, Liberal Democrat health spokesman said: "Every day's delay means more young people are seduced by tobacco advertising and become addicted to a product that will kill half of them."

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said the changes to the proposed timetable of the ban were "peripheral".