HOSPITAL staff nipping off site for a quick ciggie break are leaving a trail of butts in their wake, residents have complained.

Musgrove Park Hospital banned smoking on site earlier this month so staff are now having to go off site for their nicotine fix.

Phyllis Taylor of Ashley Road said this is causing problems as the staff are not cleaning up after themselves, leaving her street in a mess.

Mrs Taylor said: "It is a good thing to ban smoking at the hospital, but not at the expense of nearby homes.

"There is now a string of staff leaving the hospital grounds at break times for a cigarette in our street and leaving their mess behind.

"It's not fair to the residents in the area to have to live with cigarette butts all over the place because the staff have nowhere to put their rubbish."

However, the Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust which runs the hospital says there is not a lot it can do to stop the problem.

A spokesman said: "While the Trust has no power over what staff do in their own time and off site, we have asked staff not to smoke outside people's homes and to ensure that no cigarette butts are left as litter.

"The Trust is anti-smoking, not anti-smokers and has put measures in place to help both staff and the public to reduce or stop smoking.

"The Support to Stop Smoking service is available to everyone on 01823-323808."