The Government has promised to help wean sports off tobacco sponsorship after the Prime Minister met representatives to explain why Formula One was exempted from a proposed ban.

Leading figures from sports set to be hit by the measure - such as golf, ice-hockey, darts and snooker - had a 45-minute meeting at Downing Street to discuss the problems they face.

Compromise may be reached with Formula One

The representatives reportedly told Tony Blair they were worried that the three or four-year timescale which has been spoken of for phasing out tobacco sponsorship might not be long enough.

Rugby League supremo Maurice Lindsay said the sports were not fighting the Government's principles but added that it would be hard to find new funds in a congested market.

He told reporters: "The Prime Minister understood our difficulties. It was an excellent meeting and we're confident of a good response. We discussed Formula One but that is a separate issue.

"We put forward our case and the Government will help us replace tobacco sponsorship. That's all that's needed."

Banks promises to help

Sports Minister Tony Banks told reporters he would take a "hands-on" approach to finding new funds. "The Government doesn't want to damage sports, so we are going to do whatever we can to make sure they can find replacement sponsorship."

Leading figures from sports affected by cigarette ads ban enter 10 Downing Street

But he added: "It is going to mean the end of tobacco sponsorship and we're going to achieve that with a transition period that recognises the problems sports have. The Government will take an active role in finding long-term sponsorship deals for other sports."

Mr Banks made it clear no agreement had yet been reached about when tobacco sponsorship will be banned but said the Government will immediately start looking for new sources of funding.

Asked whether Formula One could survive without tobacco sponsorship, the Sports Minister said motor racing wanted to scale down its involvement with cigarette firms.

Sports Minister Tony Banks: "Government doesn't want to do anything to harm sports"

However, he added, Formula One was in a world situation so needed more time to introduce a ban. "It is a special case," he said.

Earlier, Olly Croft, of the British Darts Organisation, said he felt his sport was being treated unfairly.

"It's unfair. As far as tobacco sponsors are concerned, if that's going to be the only way to advertise their product, then the money will go to Formula One. That will leave us in the lurch."

There was no firm evidence that tobacco sponsorship of darts encouraged smoking, he maintained.

Smoking kills 330 people every day in Britain

"There's no proof or evidence, that shows that after watching it (darts), people pick up cigarettes and smoke," he told the BBC.

Health groups protest

After meeting the sporting bodies, Mr Blair discussed the advertising ban with health organisations.

The Director General of the Cancer Research Campaign, Professor Gordon McVie, said he was encouraged by the Government's commitment to ban tobacco advertising.

But Professor McVie criticised the exemption of Formula One from the ban as "most unfortunate". He said: "Formula One is a special case - but only because it attracts so many young men to smoking."

He added that health organisations were dismayed that the ban may take five years to implement.

Prof Gordon McVie of Cancer Research Campaign: "Half of smoking teenagers will be killed by habit"

"We are obviously in a serious hurry and want things done quickly because of the dangers of smoking."

But despite the criticism of the Formula One exemption, the chairman of the British Medical Association, Dr Sandy Macara, added that the health alliance had been reassured of the Government's commitment to a ban.

"We obviously want a total ban but, at the same time, we are encouraged to see that the Government is serious about achieving the European directive," he said.

The European directive on banning tobacco advertising in sport will be discussed at the Council of Health Ministers' meeting in Brussels on December 4.

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