Since the legislation came in, locals say Bemisters Lane, Gosport, has been full of drunk people spilling out of the George and Dragon pub for a smoke.

In the weeks following the ban, residents, shop owners and passers-by claim they have been plagued with problems.

The situation has become so bad one shop is looking to sell up and move out and two council residents have pleaded to be re-housed.

They claim the quaint lane has suffered:

Groups of threatening drinkers outside in the narrow lane

Constant noise until the pub's closing time

Smashed windows

Hundreds of cigarette butts left on the floor

Fights in the street.

Mary Bartlett, owner of Barnet's hair and beauty, opposite the pub, said: 'Since the introduction of the smoking ban I have personally suffered verbal intimidation and abuse.

'My staff and clients have listened to foul language from the pub customers, smoking under the awning.

'I can't stand it any more. I'm thinking of selling up and moving out.'

Resident Richard Blatch, 58, has asked the council if he can be re-housed.

He said: 'It's got worse because now they all congregate outside.

'Last Friday night we had to phone the police because of a fight and we had to do the same again on Saturday.

'We've requested to be moved away anywhere – as long as it's away from this place.'

Police have met with concerned shop owners and residents and have vowed to look into the problem.

Sergeant Rob Kearley said: 'Obviously when the smoking ban came in there was a change with people being out in the street smoking, but we were unaware of this particular issue regarding Bemisters Lane.

'There is a strength of feeling and our next step will be to review that and look at how we can resolve it.'

If the police believe an orderly house is not being run, they have the power take action against a pub, which could include measures such as reducing hours.

However, this has not yet been considered and would only be enforced if there a string of offences were committed that could be identified with the pub.

Kerri-An Suffield, owner of the pub, said: 'We try and keep swearing and noise to a minimum and we clean the street – we go out there a few times a day and sweep up.

'Bemisters Lane is a noisy street anyway because there are a lot of pedestrians down that street, not just my customers.'

Pub manager Richard Suffield added: 'If you look down Bemisters Lane people are smoking outside shops and hairdressers and there aren't any ashtrays for them to put their cigarettes. We've got ashtrays outside. There's also the problem with people having their lunches on the seats which has nothing to do with us. We put on extra doorstaff and sweep up every day because of the ban.