WITH just four days to go to the Wales smoking ban in enclosed public spaces, DANIEL LOMBARD asks customers in a Newport cafe how it will impact on them.

TIME is running out for customers who have a cigarette with their cup of tea at cafe's like Ferris' in Newport.

In three days' time, customers in Ferris's, one of Newport's oldest and best-known cafes, will have to go outside if they want to light up.

Many are not taking too kindly to the new legislation.

Owner Charles Ferris predicts he will lose a substantial amount of trade as up to 80 percent of his customers smoke on the premises, he says.

Customer Andrew Mansfield, 34, of Chelmer Close, Bettws, smokes ten cigarettes a day. He says he is "cheesed off" by the impending ban.

"It's crazy, you can't do anything any more," he said. "If you don't smoke, just don't come in."

Mr Mansfield still intends to enjoy a cuppa at Ferris's, and will go outside for a smoke.

But the gardener predicts the cafe will lose "a lot of trade".

Another regular, Tony Hughes, 59, accused the government of "nannying" the public.

"They're taking my rights away," he said.

Every morning, for the last four years, he has come to Newport by bus from Cwmbran to sit in Ferris's for an hour. There he enjoys toast, tea and a cigarette.

From next week Mr Hughes, who is registered disabled, will still frequent the cafe but "just for a cup of tea and that's it".

Charles Ferris, while not a smoker himself, said in these stressful times people should be allowed to enjoy "one of life's simple pleasures" in his establishment, situated in Newport bus station.

"It's the end of an era," he added.

"Cigarette smoke doesn't do anybody any good, but in some ways it's sad."