Carol Prowse, from the Prince Albert in Cornwallis Street, has started selling electric cigarettes for punters who she says have gotten fed up with the smoking ban, which came into force in July 2007.

She said: "Around 85 per cent of my customers smoke and do not like the smoking ban.

"They are selling like hot cakes and I tried all morning on Monday to order some more from the company which provides them.

"People are coming into the pub just to buy the cigarettes.

"I have been in touch with the council's licensing department which has given the go-ahead for me to sell them because they are not classed as a lit substance and do not produce smoke."

The electronic cigarette is a device that simulates the functions of a cigarette without the harmful chemicals.

Mrs Prowse said it uses a small replaceable cartridge filled with a small dose of nicotine and flavoured propylene glycol liquid, utilized and powered by a rechargeable battery.

When a user inhales the cigarette a microprocessor activates an atomizer which injects tiny droplets of the liquid into the flowing air and vaporises the liquid.

With the new device smokers can inhale the vapours as they would smoking a standard cigarette and still get the buzz without taking in any harmful substances.

Mrs Prowse is selling the device, together with two rechargeable batteries, for £36.99. Each cigarette costs 80p.