BUSINESSES are being reminded that it is a legal requirement to display ‘no smoking’ signs at all entrances to their premises.

Spot-checks by South Lakeland District Council officers have revealed a significant number of businesses are still not complying with the legislation.

Managers of smoke-free premises have a legal responsibility to prevent people smoking and part of the law requires no smoking signs to be displayed in a prominent position at every entrance to the premises.

Failure to comply with the laws is a criminal offence and carries a fixed penalty notice of £200.

The council’s public protection department holds a limited number of no-smoking stickers in stock that businesses can collect for free from South Lakeland House in Kendal.

Signs can be downloaded and printed or ordered from smokefreeengland.co.uk/resources, or ordered from the Smokefree England information line on 0800 169 169 7.