Paris to make smoking in city parks illegal

The Paris authorities are planning to ban smoking in public parks from the autumn in the latest effort to cure the French smoking habit and cut down on litter.

A trial ban is being imposed this summer in four parks, and the mayor plans to extend it to all city parks within months. The fine for throwing a cigarette end on the ground will be €68 (£60), while they have been set at €450 (£396) for smoking in proscribed public areas.