France is cracking down on smoking in all outdoor places where children are normally present, the government has announced. Catherine Vautrin, the health and family minister, said the ban would begin on July 1 and was aimed at protecting children's health.

Areas affected by the ban include beaches, parks, public gardens, outside schools, bus stops and sports venues. Vautrin told the French media publication Ouest-France daily that "tobacco must disappear where there are children.

"The freedom to smoke must end where the freedom of children to breathe fresh air begins," she added.

However, the government said a number of outdoor areas would be exempted from the ban.

Smokers will still be able to enjoy a puff on their cigarettes outside cafes and pubs - areas that are commonly referred to as "terraces" in French.

Anyone caught breaking the new rules will be liable to a stiff fine of €135 (£113).

The new rules will be enforced by police, although the minister hoped French citizens would choose to self-regulate.

Electronic cigarettes are not covered by the ban, but Vautrin said she was working to reduce their nicotine content.

There has been a steep drop in the number of smokers in France, according to data from French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction.

Just 23.1% of the population say they are smokers - the lowest percentage ever recorded, and a fall of over five points since 2014.

Each year, smoking in France claims the lives of over 75,000 people - 13% of all recorded deaths.

There is growing public support for outdoor bans on smoking, according to a poll commissioned by a French cancer association.

The survey for La Ligue Contre le Cancer shows almost 80% of French people are in favour of a ban on smoking in public places like woodland, beach, parks and "terrasses".

Smoking in establishments like restaurants and nightclubs has been banned in France since 2008.