THE Dover Society has taken up an issue raised by a group of mothers concerned about the consequences of the ban on smoking in restaurants and cafes.

As a result of the ban, smokers now congregate and eat their meals immediately outside the premises on the pavement in licensed areas where tables and chairs are allowed by the district council.

Now, say a group of non-smoking mothers, they are unable to sit and enjoy a coffee, or even walk by, without getting caught in the danger of cigarette smoke.

A spokesman for The Dover Society said: “We have been asked by a group of mothers to do something about this problem.

“As a result of the complaint we are writing to the chief executive of Dover District Council, the licensing authority, to see if there is anything they can do about the problem.

“One possibility is to separate the smokers and non-smokers at these outside refreshment areas.”