The government has rejected a demand from senior doctors to ban smoking in public places.

Speaking after the heads of 13 medical colleges called for a ban in restaurants, pubs and other places of work, public health minister Melanie Johnson said that "the ban idea is still premature".

"There is a great deal more to be done by way of public persuasion and education. There would be problems with enforcement of the ban," she told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

But the proposals could be included in the government's policy consultation document set to be launched on Friday.