ONE in 10 hospitality workers have been attacked by customers after asking them to stop smoking.

A survey of 5,000 employees showed many had been threatened or physically attacked since the smoking ban came into force in England in the summer.

Recruitment website Caterer.com said its research showed that staff in bars and restaurants were suffering "shocking" levels of violence.

One worker said a customer put a belt around his neck and tried to strangle him after being told he could not smoke, while another was threatened with a knife after asking a young woman to put out a cigarette.

Laurence Owen of Caterer.com said: "The level of violence experienced by some people when trying to enforce the ban with customers is shocking."

In spite of the threat of violence, nearly four out of five hospitality staff said they were happier at work now smoking had been banned. A similar number said they felt healthier since the ban.