Most of those fatally affected by inhaling other people's smoke are relatives of smokers, with some 3600 people under 65 dying each from lung cancer, heart disease and stroke.

The research undertaken by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) also revealed that at least 50 people working in the hospitality industry die every year.

This translates into one bartender, waitress or club worker dying every week because of breathing in second-hand cigarette smoke. Another 700 people die owing to passive smoking in the workplace.

The new figures are four times higher than those previously made available. Past estimates suggested second-hand smoke killed around 1000 Britons a year.

Doctors described the figures as "startling" and said deaths could be prevented by banning cigarette smoking in all indoor public places and workplaces.

Ireland introduced a public smoking ban earlier this year, following in the footsteps of several cities in the United States and Canada. Norway is also preparing to impose a total ban on smoking in public places, including bars, restaurants and discos, on June 1.

The head of the Royal College of Physicians Carol Black said "environmental tobacco smoke in pubs, bars, restaurants and other public places is seriously damaging to the health of employees as well as the general public.

"Making these places smoke-free not only protects vulnerable staff and the public, it will also help over 300 000 people in Britain to stop smoking completely."

Smokers' lobby groups questioned the new figures however, saying they were only estimates.

"Where is the hard evidence that passive smoking is killing people?" asked Simon Clark who heads Forest, one pro-smoking group.

"If one person dies every week from passive smoking at work, as the anti-smokers claim, it's time to name names. Let's have proof, not statistics based on very dubious science," he added.

AFP