Eighty five-year-old Jim Donachie of Greendykes Road, Craigiebank, had been in the lounge bar of the Boars Rock pub on Arbroath Road when he decided to go out for a cigar.

As he walked across the lounge of his local, Mr Donachie stumbled forward and hit his head on the bar top before falling to the ground in front of shocked regulars.

Mr Donachie’s son, daughter-in-law and sister-in-law, with whom he had attended a family funeral earlier in the day, were also in the bar when the accident occurred early in the evening.

An ambulance crew was summoned and the pensioner was taken to Ninewells Hospital where he died a short time later.

His son Stewart said today he was angry his father, who he described as a “cheery lad” who enjoyed a couple of drinks, had been forced outside for his cigar.

He called for new provisions to be made for the elderly and disabled under the terms of the smoking ban.

He said, “During the day I’d always gone outside with him to have his smoke to make sure he was OK.

“I didn’t see him getting up that once and he fell and cracked his head against the bar. He died of a brain haemorrhage.

“I believe if the ban hadn’t come in then he would have been sitting at the table and he would have still been here today.

“I think there should be leeway for older and disabled people not to have to go out in the rain for a cigar or cigarette.

“A prime example was on Sunday night when the ban came in. I was in a bar when the staff had to push an old lad outside in his wheelchair. It is ridiculous.”

Mr Donachie was born and brought up in the Blackness area of Dundee before moving to Craigiebank in the 1940s.

He worked as a bus conductor for many years before joining the plumbing and fittings firm Delta.

He served with the anti-aircraft service with the Army at Fort William during the Second World War.

A keen music fan, Mr Donachie was known to entertain regulars at the North End Social Club with a song. He also enjoyed a regular game of dominoes.

Mr Donachie was predeceased by Cath, his wife of 60 years. He is survived by his three sons, Jim, Stewart and Willie, six grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Gordon Whiting, managing director of Redwood Leisure which owns the Boars Rock, sent his condolences to Mr Donachie’s family.

He said, “It was just a very unfortunate accident. We called an ambulance but unfortunately he died.”

The Scottish Executive was asked to respond to Stewart Donachie’s comments, but a spokeswoman only said, “This is a tragic accident and our thoughts are with the man’s family and friends.”