Smoking accused landlord to sell

Tony Blows is due before magistrates on Friday

A landlord accused of allowing smoking in his pub is selling up because of the "stress" of fighting the case.

Tony Blows, of the Dog Inn at Ewyas Harold, Herefordshire, said: "I have to consciously make a decision. If I don't do that it's going to kill me."

He is accused of smoking and allowing others to smoke in the pub on 4 August and "failing in his duty" to stop people smoking there on 23 July.

Mr Blows is due to appear before magistrates in Hereford on Friday.

A ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces began in England on 1 July.

'Won't be here'

Mr Blows, who is the leaseholder of the pub, is being prosecuted by Herefordshire Council.

He said the stress of fighting the case was seriously affecting his health.

"I've got to sort my life out, in the sense that if I don't do something now I probably won't be here next year."

Mr Blows said he had received several expressions of interest but had not yet found someone to take over the 55-year lease.

A ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces began in England on 1 July.

The charges are contrary to section 8 (4) and Section 7 (2) of the Health Act 2006, the council said.