The three stages would cover:

• a verbal warning from the authorities
  
• a written warning on the second occasion
  
• a fine levied on the third occasion the smoking ban is breached

An FSB spokeswoman said:

"We need to see a ‘three strikes and you’re out’ policy where enforcement agencies provide advice for businesses on how to meet their obligations before fines are handed down. If this does not happen then it will only breed resentment and resistance to the smoking ban and neither we nor the Government would want this to happen.

"We would urge all businesses to go to the smoke free England website to get their free signs. This will protect them from fines and will also ensure that, if someone ignores them and smokes on their premises, they will have a defence against further action."