WORKERS at Blackburn-based Heritage Envelopes have returned from the Christmas holiday period to a "smoke free" environment after the company banned smoking on the premises.

The entire Heritage site was designated "smoke free" from January 3 and employees had been on notice for 12 months that smoking would be banned on site.

Smokers have been offered help in the form of "How to Quit Smoking" literature, said the company.

The company said the smoking ban had been brought on from various pressures, including those from insurance companies, anti social demands and the rights of non-smokers who experience fewer breaks than smokers.

Valerie Miles, policy manager at the Chamber of Commerce, said companies banning smoking in the work place was no longer unique and was a "continuing and welcoming" trend among companies across Britain.