FIRMS across Birmingham are being asked to investigate how many members of staff smoke in an effort to help thousands of people kick the habit.

Bosses have been told they must do more to encourage workers to “stub it out”, as part of a major drive to combat nicotine-related illness.

A new initiative, backed by the city council and health trusts, sets a target of 120,000 people quitting tobacco over the next five years.

The Birmingham Tobacco Control Strategy urges the council and other large employers to take far more responsibility for stamping out smoking among employees.

But cabinet human resources member Alan Rudge warned against heavy-handed tactics.

Coun Rudge (Con, Sutton Vesey) said: “This is a good idea, as long as it is done sensibly and fairly. We don’t want a witch hunt.”

It is estimated that a quarter of Birmingham’s adult population smokes, although the figure is closer to a third in poorer neighbourhoods.