It has saved lives, cleared the air and led to thousands quitting smoking in Kent alone.

The national smoking ban was introduced one year ago today.

While many pubs and bars have suffered a downturn in trade as smokers opted to stay away, others say business is booming.

Shepherd Neame spent more than £3million in the past year - around £10,000 per pub - providing canopies, pergolas, giant umbrellas, lighting and patio heaters, but say the spend had paid off.

Mark Copestake, landlord of the White Hart, Canterbury, said his pub had increased its beer sales over the past year.

He said: “We were forward-thinking - we started planning for this even before the White Paper was published.

“We do see a lot of people on the basis that they can sit outside and enjoy a cigarette in comfort.”

Louise Neary became tenant of the Chequers at Doddington last year and only decided to take on the pub because of the ban.

She said: “It’s one thing working in a pub and going home but I could not have lived with it 24/7, with smoke drifting up through the ceiling into the living areas.

“Everyone has accepted it - we haven’t had any trouble.”

But Tony Saxby, chairman of the local Licensed Victuallers' Association, says the ban has been devastating for some pubs.

Mr Saxby, who runs the Bat and Ball in Old Dover Road, Canterbury, said: “I don’t think it has done anyone any favours.

"People do still come to the pub and go out to smoke, but do they come as often or stay as long? It is hard to quantify.”

Mr Saxby said pubs were struggling anyway, fighting the effects of the credit crunch and cheap beer from supermarkets.

“The smoking ban is just another hardship, another problem that people have to face. It has been quite devastating for the smaller, more traditional pubs.

“From a business point of view I would like to see a complete reversal of Government policy and I’d like the ashtrays back on the bar tomorrow."

No one has been prosecuted by the city council for flouting the ban.

Dick Langridge, one of the council’s senior environmental health officers, said venues and businesses had been "reasonably compliant."

“There are some problem areas and we have a small list of places that have had warnings about signage or allowing people to smoke,” he said.

However fears that the ban would create a growing mountain of cigarette litter on our streets have materialised.

Mr Langridge said the council’s streetscene team had tried to encourage people to use stubbies, or pocket ashtrays, but the take-up hadn’t been great.

The wardens also found it hard to catch someone in the act of discarding a cigarette stub, he said.

Since the ban came into effect 78 fixed penalty notices for smoking related litter - including butts and packaging - have been issued by the council. In the previous year just 18 were issued.