SMOKING in London's pubs and restaurants could soon be an offence if one of Britain's largest unions gets its own way.

GMB, the general union with over 700,000 members, has called on the Greater London Authority (GLA) to stop issuing new alcohol licences to premises which allow smoking.

A survey of 5,000 members working in the capital's hotels, pubs, clubs, bars, restaurants and casinos showed 60 per cent felt their health had suffered from passive smoking.

Paul Kenny, its London Regional Secretary, said that the union's members were falling ill due to second-hand smoke.

"They want to be able to work and do their jobs without fear of developing serious illnesses linked to passive smoking," he said.

"At the moment many of them don't have a choice but to smoke. The GMB insists that their workplaces be made smoke-free."

The most common complaints were about sore throats and eyes, persistent coughing and lack of breath. Some 52 per cent of the survey respondents said they or their colleagues had complained to their employers about smoke in the workplace.

A recent report issued by the GLA's smoking in public places committee revealed that more than 1,000 Londoners die each year from coronary heart disease caused by passive smoking. Other health risks include lung cancer, strokes, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, cot deaths and middle ear infections in children.

It found that hospitality industry workers were most likely to suffer. But those who visit pubs, clubs, restaurants, casinos or sports clubs two or three times a week are also at risk.

Some pubs do provide smoke-free zones. A quarter of the customer areas in JD Wetherspoon pubs are off-limit to smokers. And Young's PR consultant Michael Hardman said that one fifth of its pubs had non-smoking areas and that it wanted to increase this proportion, especially where food was served.

But some publicans feel patrons should be allowed to smoke.

Dianne Shaw, manager of The Case Is Altered pub in Pinner said she would not support a move to outlaw smoking. She had little sympathy for workers.

"People who apply for work are aware of the fact that smoking is allowed in pubs," she said.