Spaniards are no longer allowed to smoke as they take a Sunday stroll in the woods, under new government rules aimed at curbing the risk of fires such as last weekend's in which 11 firefighters died.
Lighting fires in open spaces is banned nationwide until November, by when the country's severe drought may have eased.
Today's law, which comes into force immediately, emphasises the danger of barbecues at picnic places, thought to be the cause of the fatal blaze in Guadalajara, and prohibits farmers from burning stubble, for example.
Just under 30 per cent of Spaniards over 16 smoke daily and no-smoking rules in stations and other public places are widely flouted. The Environment Ministry did not explain how its ban on smoking in the countryside would be enforced