Thousands have given their verdict on whether smoking should be banned in Brighton and Hove's public spaces.

Landlords and club owners, pubgoers and clubbers and even schoolchildren took part in the part in The Big Smoke Debate, an online and postal survey which ran from July 14 to September 30.

The results will be announced next Wednesday in front of a Question Time-style panel including health professionals, businesses, the pro-smokers' rights group Forest and the anti-smoking lobby Ash.

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Primary Care Trust (PCT), said: "The response to our consultation has been impressive. Thousands have taken part and given their views already but we wanted to give people the opportunity to have a lively debate in an open forum, particularly how businesses feel about the implications for them.

"The results of The Big Smoke Debate will give us a good measure of local opinion which will help inform future policy and planning decisions on smoking in enclosed public places."

Next month ministers will publish the long-awaited Public Health White Paper, which is expected to include measures to limit smoking in public places but stop short of a total ban covering all restaurants and pubs.

Anti-smoking campaigners have had their argument boosted with the findings of a leaked Government report which says no infant, child or adult should be exposed to passive smoking because of the hazards to health.

The Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health (Scoth) report revealed that there was a 24 per cent increased risk of lung cancer for non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke and that children were significantly at risk.

The report said: "Children are at greatest risk in their homes and the evidence strongly links second-hand smoke with an increased risk of pneumonia and bronchitis, asthma attacks, middle ear disease, decreased lung function and sudden infant death syndrome.

"Some groups, for example bar staff, are heavily exposed at their place of work and almost half of all children still live in households with at least one smoker."

The committee said knowledge of the hazardous nature of passive smoking had been consolidated in the last five years.

It concluded: "It is evident that no infant, child or adult should be exposed to second-hand smoke."

Campaigners say the majority of people back a public smoking ban, as introduced in the Irish Republic, and accuse the Government of inaction.

The pro-smoking lobby and the tobacco industry have disputed claims that passive-smoking is a significant danger.

Brighton and Hove city councillors supported a motion earlier this month calling for the Government to speed up proposed legislation aimed at reducing smoking in public places.

It said: "The council acknowledges the considerable risk to public health caused by tobacco smoke, which contains more than 50 cancer-causing chemicals and more than 100 poisons, and accepts as a responsible community leader, it has a duty to tackle this issue for the well-being of the city."

The debate at the PCT's meeting at the Corn Exchange in Brighton, is open to the public and runs from 3pm to 5pm.