IN answer to Mrs P A Wade ('Smoke-free pubs will lose money', February 4), it seems that everywhere smoking has been banned in pubs, they haven't lost money.

Some landlords have said takings have gone up because more people come to enjoy a smoke-free atmosphere.

Wetherspoons is soon to implement a voluntary ban and I doubt that any business would willingly lose money if it didn't have to, so it doesn't feel it will lose out.

Some people's reasoning could be based on their selfish desire to continue inflicting their cancer-causing pollution on others, rather than the facts.

W Elliott,

Kinbrace Road, Hartlepool.

Updated: 09:33 Friday, February 11, 2005