SMOKERS are being sent out into the cold after a council declared all its buildings tobacco-free zones.

A shelter being provided outside Wear Valley District Council's offices in Crook could be the only place for smokers to feed their addiction now that the total ban has been confirmed.

The council has introduced the ban because of concerns about the effects of passive smoking. The authority introduced an unofficial ban five years ago.

A ground-floor smoking room set aside at that time closed a few months ago.

A councillors' rest room on the floor was a no smoking zone, although some members continued to smoke on the landing.

Now the council is negotiating with unions about arrangements for staff to take smoking breaks. And councillors will still be able to smoke on council duties after it was agreed that a ban would be impossible to enforce.

Staff supported the original move in answers to a survey, and some attended cessation classes in an effort to give up the habit.

The policy will cover all council buildings, apart from bars and halls which are privately hired.