DURHAM County Council is extending restrictions on smoking at its headquarters.

Councillors will no longer be able to smoke in the members' lounge at County Hall or in the bar, even during evening social events.

County Hall's three smoking rooms will be scrapped, so staff will have to go outside to smoke, although officials do not want them lighting up near the main entrance.

Smoking will still be permitted in designated areas of some social services buildings, such as mental health day centres and old people's homes.

Restrictions were introduced in 1998 to meet staff concerns about health risks posed by passive smoking and to avoid legal action.

Non-smoking staff have raised concerns about the policy, including the smell of smoke drifting into corridors from smoking rooms, the number of smoking breaks taken and noise from the smoking rooms.

Unions are still being consulted, but Unison has requested that provision for smokers be retained.

Cabinet member Councillor Brian Walker, an ex-smoker, said: "The council could have legal action taken against it if somebody became ill through passive smoking.''

Councillors were told staff would be given help to quit.