Owner of Morpeth’s Campbell’s Store, Trevor Richards, will remove five of the handmade statuettes to comply with ­legislation that prohibits smoking within four metres of any shop door. 

“We have to get rid of them because it could be seen as advocating smoking within four metres of the shopfront,” he said. 

Mr Richards had the statues specially made 26 years ago to encourage smokers to butt out before entering the 144-year-old business. 

“We found smokers were putting their butts out between the flagstones [at the front of the store] and it is a nightmare to get them out – we suspect that’s what they’ll return to doing once we remove 

the statues.”

He said the figures, two at the shopfront and three at the rear, each collect between 20 and 30 cigarettes a day. 

“It would be nice if someone like council or the health department would come and clean up after them because, in the end, it is their legislation.”

From January 7, smokers can no longer light up within 10 metres of children’s playground equipment, public swimming pools,  sports grounds during organised events,  and all public transport stops, ­stations, wharves and taxi ranks. 

Sad to see his much loved statuettes go, Mr Richards said he is in support of any legislation that discourages people to smoke.