A Southend man who is battling neck cancer is calling for a proposed ban on smoking in public places to be expanded.

The Government has announced a ban on smoking in a variety of public places, including restaurants and pubs that prepare food, but Matt Lea wants the ban to apply to all establishments.

Mr Lea, 32, has been fighting neck cancer as a result of smoking and working as a DJ in smoky clubs and pubs.

He welcomed the Government initiative but urges them to make no exceptions.

He said: "I think it's a brilliant idea. It's going to stop a lot of people being ill. Passive smoking is a part of that. And it might encourage people to stop smoking altogether.

"But I think they're not taking it far enough. It should be all establishments. "For health reasons, I don't think it should just affect pubs that sell food, but all pubs."

Mr Lea had been smoking for nine years, but quit as soon as he was diagnosed.

Since he was diagnosed, he has been through months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Eventually the tumours were killed off by high-tech laser surgery.