THE actress Joanna Lumley gave her support last night to those opposed to Scottish proposals to ban smoking in public places.

Lumley, who has a cottage in Dumfries and boasts of having three quarters of Scottish blood running through her veins, urged the Scottish Executive to “lighten up”.

In an interview broadcast on Scotland Today, she said she would build a huge bonfire at her cottage, light a massive cigarette and grab a bottle of whisky in protest if a ban was passed.

Lumley, who plays hard-living Patsy Stone in the sitcom Absolutely Fabulous, also declared her intention to continue lighting up if the ban went ahead.

Scotland’s doctors have welcomed the proposal to ban smoking in public places; 1,000 of them have written to the Executive to call for the move to be pushed through. Publicans have roundly condemned such a ban, however, saying it would blight the Scottish economy.

The public consultation on whether smoking should be banned in public places in Scotland came to an end last week. Ministers said that the response had been “absolutely astounding”. They now have to weigh up the evidence for and against a proposed ban.

Smoking continues to be the biggest cause of preventable premature death and ill-health and there is mounting evidence of the health risks of passive smoking.

Explore Health

• Expert Advice

• Health Features

• Mental Health

• Alternative Medicine

• Child Health

• Health Club