What do people think about an outdoor smoking ban?

"No smoking on the street" signs, featuring Liverpool City Council's emblem, have appeared in the city

More than 200 smoke-free pavement licences have been granted in Liverpool since April.

By ensuring outdoor venues which serve food and drink are non-smoking zones, Liverpool City Council hopes to reduce exposure to passive smoking, support more smokers to quit, and reduce smoking-related litter.

Vaping is still allowed, however, in line with the local authority's current approach to cut smoking rates in the city.

The council pointed to a poll in which nearly three quarters of people said they backed the local authority's approach.

BBC Radio Merseyside also took the the streets to gauge opinion.

Some declined to give their full names, so we have only use their first names.

Damian Gajdul is bar manager at Castle Street Town House

"We have an area where people cannot smoke inside barriers on the street.

"When we see someone light up the staff and security ask them politely to step outside the cordoned area.

"They may give backchat but in the end they just move.

"Having no smoking litter saves so much time at the end when we clean up."

Shaun and Hannah are visiting Liverpool from Staffordshire

Shaun: "I totally think it is a good idea to be honest.

"It is not nice when you are enjoying a meal to have smoke blowing over you."

Hannah: "I don't see how anyone could disagree – if there are a lot of smokers on the pavement outside a bar or restaurant I totally put off going there."

Stuart Spencer from Formby, Merseyside

"I'm a non-smoker - I think it is a good thing.

"It's good for people's health.

"I think it will be good if this policy puts people off smoking.

"We went to Holland recently where they have no smoking zones on the street.

"Some people were smoking all kind of things and ignoring the ban so I left the venue."

Bjorn from Sweden

"In my country 'no street smoking' zones began two years ago.

"Everybody has got used to it.

"I think it is a good idea.

"Some countries such as France do not favour the idea."