A LANDLADY has warned the Prime Minister and the "smoking police" they are not welcome as part of a protest against "the nanny state".

Landlady Denise Smith, 51, has placed a notice at the Crown Pub, in Bacup Road, Rawtenstall, stating: "The smoking police, traffic wardens, council officials, state police, Gordon Brown and any of his other cronies are not welcome and will be removed."

She said she had erected the sign as part of a protest at the introduction of the smoking ban and if any of the people named in the notice enter the pub they would be asked to leave.

Mrs Smith, who has been running the pub with husband David, 46, for more than five years, said: "This is my way of protesting against all the controls there are.

"I don't know what I would do if Tony Blair or Gordon Brown came in. It would depend on what mood I was in and how they approached me.

"If they were pushy or rude I would ask them to leave and if they refused to leave I can force them to leave.

"If people want to smoke they should be able to smoke and non-smokers would have a choice if they want to come in. With traditional English pubs it sould be allowed as long as there is adequate ventilation.

"The way forward is non-smoking and smoking pubs."

Mrs Smith said her customers, smokers and non-smokers, agreed with her and supported the notice and that the protest was against all forms of control not just the smoking ban.

She said: "I feel we have been unfairly treated in relation to the smoking and binge drinking because we are an easy target.

"Binge drinking is caused by supermarkets - people can't afford to come in to the pub and get drinks.

"You can go to the supermarket and buy a bottle of vodka for £6.

"If they are that bad why don't they ban them all together?"

Mrs Smith, who has not yet been visited by smoking officers, said her customers were happy with the pub before the smoking ban came in and many wanted the ban to be lifted.