SMOKERS who light up outside the entrance to York Hospital could end up being given a ticking off - by a machine.

A talking box, which looks like a standard smoke alarm, is activated if someone lights up a cigarette and a loud message is then given out with a request for it to be stubbed out.

The anti-smoking device was piloted at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton on national No Smoking Day earlier this month, and it could come to York Hospital, say health chiefs.

Alison Hughes, head of strategy and facilities at York Hospital, said that although there had been a positive response to the non-smoking policy outside hospital entrances, the smoke-free box would be considered if the situation worsened.

She said: "Since the non-smoking ban, we have had a positive response both from staff and visitors who have respected our policy on lighting-up outside hospital entrances.

"However, if either staff or visitors do begin to smoke outside these entrances, then the smoke detector boxes are definitely a scheme which would be considered here at York Hospital."

South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust's "smoke free" leader, Tricia Hart, said the talking boxes were brought in at Northallerton to discourage groups from congregating and smoking outside the hospital's main entrance.

She said: "We are the largest employer in the area and our prime concern is to help improve people's health and well-being.

"While Northallerton hospital has been smoke free for almost two years, there is still a problem with smokers congregating outside entrances.

"We have signs outside entrances asking people not to smoke, yet some still do and we often receive complaints from members of the public and from our staff about it.

"It isn't pleasant for people to walk past plumes of smoke just to get into hospital so we're asking that this hardcore group, which continue to disregard our policy, show a bit more consideration for others.

Jill Stewart,stop smoking specialist advisor for maternal health, said: "We need to make patients, staff and visitors aware that our stop smoking service is waiting to help if anyone is thinking about quitting.

"Smokers are four times more likely to quit if they access a local community stop smoking service. There are a number of excellent treatments available."