CLEAN Air Awards, inspired by the late Roy Castle, are being expanded nationally.

The awards by the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation are being launched to support all companies and organisations that are committed to a no-smoke at work environment.

The awards have been set up by the foundation, which was established in memory of the Scholes- born entertainer, who died from lung cancer in 1994, despite not being a smoker.

Miss Helen Mazurek, a stop smoking adviser for the Huddersfield Smoking Advice Service, said: "We would support any award that promotes the protection of workers from the detrimental effects of second-hand smoke.

"Employers should benefit from reduced absenteeism and increased productivity," she added.

The National Clean Air Award has two levels , gold and silver.

Gold is given to completely smoke-free premises and silver for premises that provide an outside smoking shelter or a fully-enclosed smoking room inside.

Mike Unger, the foundation's chief executive, said: "Employers have a legal responsibility to protect the health of their employees. It is hoped this award will help them to fulfil this responsibility."

They have been based on the Good Air Awards, which have been operating in West Yorkshire for about the past 10 years.

The awards are given by anti- smoking group Yorkshire Ash to cafes, bars , restaurants and workplaces that are smoke-free or which have designated smoking areas. International research shows that an effective no-smoking policy can reduce legal liability, create a safer working environment, improve workers' health, reduce tensions between smokers and non-smokers and demonstrate a company's commitment to the wellbeing of staff and customers.

A ban on smoking in public places has been in place for 12 months in New York.

This has resulted in 10,000 new hospitality trade jobs and a 12% increase in tax revenues from the industry, it is claimed.

The Irish Republic's offices, factories, bars and restaurants were yesterday declared officially no-go areas to the country's smokers.

Ireland's ban was introduced despite fierce resistance from some hoteliers and pub landlords.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland health minister Angela Smith said more lives could be saved if there were such restrictions in the province as well.

Even though the authorities anticipate some objections if restrictions are extended to Northern Ireland, the developing anti-cigarette lobby called on the minister to begin making arrangements for a workplace ban.