Dozens of fans attending last weekend's gig by George Michael were shocked to be told that if they nipped out for a ciggie at the interval they would miss the rest of the show.

One female fan from Belfast said: "There was a 15-20 minute interval and I was bursting for a cigarette, but when I got down to the front doors the security men said that if I left I wouldn't get back in - I couldn't believe it.

"Even though it was raining, me and a lot of other people were prepared to stand outside. I'd paid £75 for my ticket and feel as entitled to see the show as someone who doesn't smoke - it's as simple as that."

Said another disgruntled concert-goer: "Why can't they look at your ticket or use a wristband system?

"George Michael was singing Let's Go Outside at the show, but none of us smokers could go outside and then get back in to hear him!

"George is a bit of a smoker, so would they have stopped him getting back into the Odyssey if he had nipped out?"

An Odyssey spokeswoman defended its policy at the George Michael concert - one of the first major gigs to be staged at the arena since the introduction of the smoking legislation in April.

She said the Odyssey couldn't operate a ticketing or wristband re-admission procedure because of the size of the venue and crowd numbers.

"It is impossible to police and to correctly implement health and safety procedures if patrons are allowed in and out of the building to smoke. "

She added that a number of other venues in the UK, including the new O2 Arena in London, enforced a strict 'no re-admittance' policy.

However, when Sunday Life contacted the NEC Arena in Birmingham, which has a larger capacity than the Odyssey, we were told it DOES allow smokers to go outside and then regain entry.

An NEC Group spokeswoman said: "Since the new legislation was introduced all shows at the arena have offered a 'pass out' system, which has worked effectively."

A Belfast City Council spokesman confirmed that the Waterfront Hall permits smokers to go outside for a cigarette and return during show intervals.