GREENWICH Primary Care Trust has become a smoke-free zone.

Patients, visitors and staff will no longer be able to light up on trust premises to protect people's health and encourage smokers to kick the habit.

The trust in Greenwich Park Street, Greenwich, was prompted into taking action after recent figures showed the borough had the highest rates of smoking in the country.

In a joint report by Smokefree London and the London Health Observatory, 38 per cent of men in Greenwich smoke, which is 10 per cent higher than the national average.

Trust chief executive Jane Schofield said: "As a provider of healthcare services, we have to improve people's health and set an example for other employers."

Call Greenwich Stop Smoking Service on 020 8293 6979.