Small shops have seen an upturn in sales since the ban on displaying cigarettes in supermarkets.

The new rules, introduced on April 6, prohibit stores with a square footage of more than 280sqm from showing cigarettes on sale.

The ban will not be imposed on smaller shops until 2015.

Halstead newsagents say they have seen an increase in their sales of cigarettes but do not think the trend will last long.

Nick Shaw, owner of Piccadilly, in Trinity Street, said: “We have got a little bit busier since the rules changed so there is a bit of benefit to us at the moment.

“But looking at the situation, it won’t be so good when we are forced to change.”

Mr Shaw believes the ban will cause problems for smaller retailers as they have to change fixtures and fittings in their shops.

He added: “It is a bit dictatorial. Supermarkets now are not allowed to tell customers the brand or price of cigarettes so it opens up a few problems.

“We will be waiting until the last possible moment because it will be such an inconvenience.

“Once the display is hidden, we won’t be able to tell what our levels of stock are like easily, and it will be hard to know exactly where each brand is.

“It will be very time-consuming for us. We have got bits of information about the ban from the trade magazines but nothing from the Government yet.”

Sainsbury’s in High Street, say they have been working hard to ensure the new rules are brought in as smoothly as possible.