Smoking ban ptII

Former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy has been "spoken to" by police for smoking on a train. Police said a man was advised of the no smoking policy on the 1105 BST Paddington to Plymouth train earlier.

They were told he was smoking on board and "refusing to stop", thinking it was fine to smoke out of the window.

Mr Kennedy,the youngest ever MP (aged 24), who was ousted as Lib Dem leader in January 2006 after admitting to a drink problem, has long tried to quit smoking.

The train manager on the First Great Western train called the British Transport Police after Mr Kennedy was discovered smoking on board, the BBC understands.

It is thought there was some sort of confrontation between the Lib Dem MP and train staff.

The train was met on arrival by the police where Mr Kennedy was spoken to about his behaviour. He was not arrested.

British Transport Police, who refused to confirm the identity of the man on the Plymouth train, said "the matter was resolved informally".

A spokesman for the Liberal Democrats refused to comment, saying it was a private matter.

Mr Kennedy backed the England-wide ban on smoking in enclosed public places last year, but during the 2001 General Election campaign he was known to allow people to light up on his plane.