MORE than two-thirds of residents in Banbury want pubs and restaurants to be smoke free.

The figure, the result of a district-wide survey, was revealed during the presentation of this year's Eat Well in Cherwell awards, organised by Cherwell District Council.

Forty-three businesses who supply or prepare food for the public were recognised at the award ceremony for including healthy options on their menus, providing smoke free areas, and displaying excellent hygiene standards.

Beccy White, the council's health promotion officer, said: "It's great to see even more businesses achieving this award and embracing healthy eating in a smoke-free environment. "We have an ambitious project of trying to achieve 'smoke-free Cherwell' in the future. The awards project goes a long way into making this a reality."

Eileen Edwards, head of the council's environmental services department, said: "With the Government still not 100 per cent decided on what legislation to put forward regarding smoke-free public places, this council is taking a positive initiative on the public's health and highlighting places that are smoke free." The survey was carried out on No Smoking Day earlier this year.

Kieron Mallon, the council's executive member for the environment, who presented the awards at a ceremony at Bloxham Independent School, said the survey demonstrated that the public's view of smoke-free public places was positive. Out of 2,800 people asked, 69 percent wanted pubs and restaurants to be smoke free.