Keep Britain Tidy said that forcing smokers onto the streets would lead to a growth in littering and claimed a total smoking ban in Ireland had caused problems outside pubs, restaurants and colleges.

"Boxes, butts and matches are our biggest litter problem and are found on around 90 percent of our streets" said Alan Woods, Chief Executive of Keep Britain Tidy.

"While we all understand the reasons for a ban, the health of our environment has got to be considered too and smokers need something to drop their dog ends in. If we don't provide this, then England will become a giant ashtray."

The group said that 61 percent of residents in Cork, Dublin, Galway and Waterford believed litter had increased since prohibition began.

Meanwhile in England, where smoking is already outlawed in many workplaces, 35 percent of employees who had to go outside for a cigarette were not provided with a bin or ashtray.