When legislation banning smoking in public places comes into force in the United Kingdom on July 1, even cathedrals must have signs at the door warning people smoking is forbidden inside. Wedding cars and hearses will also have to display signs.

The crematorium and associated bereavement services, which are run by the city council, have been non-smoking for 15 years.

When the ban on smoking in public places comes into force it will be an offence not to display signs at all entrances to public buildings. Any place that does not put up the signs could be fined (GBP) £200.

Church of England clerics say government requirements for "No Smoking" signs to be posted in the front of all churches, synagogues and other places of worship are an example of the "aggressive nanny state" in action.

Participants at a conference organised by the Association of English Cathedrals (AEC) said they had never seen anyone smoking in church.

But a spokeswoman for the British Department of Health insisted that churches were public places and thus had to follow tough smoke-free regulations coming into force July 1.

She said most English churches haven't complained about the changes and that parishes in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland were already displaying the signs.

"The smoke-free provisions in the Health Act, including those on no-smoking signs, were considered in great detail in parliament," she said. "It is also important to remember that 26 bishops sit in the House of Lords, where the smoke-free legislation was debated."