SCORES of smokers are making life a misery for homeowners in Uphill whose streets are being littered with cigarette butts. Since Weston General Hospital declared its grounds a no smoking area staff, patients and visitors are often seen lighting up in the

SCORES of smokers are making life a misery for homeowners in Uphill whose streets are being littered with cigarette butts.Since Weston General Hospital declared its grounds a no smoking area staff, patients and visitors are often seen lighting up in the nearby streets and huddling under the bus shelter for a quick cigarette break.Patients lighting up in the street while still strapped to their drips are a comical sight but the mess smokers are leaving behind is getting out of hand and a number of residents have written to the hospital to complain.Uphill Village Society chairman Stewart Castle said: "The smokers now go outside and stand on the public highway and verges and use the bus shelter as their smoking area and litter it with cigarettes, making it very scruffy."After two years of consulting with staff and patients, smoking was banned in the hospital buildings and grounds on January 1 to comply with national policy.Hospital spokeswoman Caroline Thomas said: "Staff have been reminded that they should not smoke in public while wearing a uniform or trust ID badge."We are very keen to work with local groups to complement the high-profile work we are doing in the hospital in this important area.