Norwich City Council has become the latest local authority to introduce a 'voluntary' ban on smoking in children's play areas.

Forest was quoted in the local paper last week and yesterday I was interviewed on BBC Radio Norfolk.

I was also invited by to discuss the issue on Mustard TV. I'd never heard of the station so I was curious and said yes even though it meant a four-hour round trip.

Bizarrely Mustard TV is named as a "nod to Colman's mustard in Norwich" although there's no direct connection between the two.

Instead it's owned by Archant, a local community media group with an extensive range of titles including the Eastern Daily Press.

I had a pang of regret when I arrived because this is exactly the sort of company I wanted to join when I left university.

Instead I was side-tracked by an offer of work in London, where I had always wanted to live, and found myself in public relations instead.

Anyway, I enjoyed my visit. There was a green room, and make-up facilities, and after a short wait we were ushered in to a small studio where we met the presenter, Clare.

Fellow guests were Bill, an ex-smoker who now works for a local stop smoking service, and Tracy, an NHS nurse.

Recorded 'as live' the atmosphere on the 30-minute programme was relaxed and friendly. It was lively - we disagreed on several points - but it never got personal or unpleasant.

Although Bill and Tracy are committed to helping smokers quit, I sensed an empathy for smokers you never get from anti-smoking politicians and professional lobbyists like ASH.

At one point Bill even accepted that designated smoking rooms in pubs and clubs might not be a bad idea.

The programme was broadcast on Freeview in the Norwich area last night.