IT will be anything but a happy new year for smokers as health bosses crack down on smoking - by banning it from hospitals and grounds.

Staff, visitors and out-patients will no longer be able to light up and staff will even be told they cannot smoke while in uniform away from work.

But the ban will not totally rule out smoking as patients will continue to be able to visit designated areas and anyone who is in a distressed state will not be told to stop by hospital officials.

Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare Trust is set to introduce the measures next year at Andover War Memorial Hosp-ital and other trust sites.

Its board passed the measure after accepting a report that highlighted the health and safety risks of smoking on hospital sites.

The new restrictions will come into force from 1 January when smoking will become restricted to a small number of specific areas.

And from 1 July 2001 smoking by both staff and visitors on the trust's properties will be stopped completely.

The trust's director of personnel Vicki Fletcher said: "The general managers have felt that as a health organisation we have to set an example.

"The policy is aimed at staff and visitors, not at giving health advice to patients or distressed relatives."

Independent board director Ann Rich disagreed with the proposal.

She said: "I cannot greet this with any enthusiasm. Most people who smoke do not want to continue but find it difficult to give up.

"I do not think we should make life impossible for these people."