TWO hospital porters have been arrested after an investigation into the selling of contraband cigarettes to patients at a Blackburn hospital.

The man and woman were arrested after customs officials moved in on Queen's Park Hospital where they work.

Customs officials said the arrests followed a month-long operation.

A quantity of tobacco and around 100 cigarettes were later recovered from a house in Blackburn and a locker at the hospital.

Both of the employees were taken to Blackburn Police Station where they were questioned by customs officers.

They have both been suspended from their jobs by the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust which runs Queen's Park Hospital.

Brian Duguid, 30, of Primrose Terrace, Mill Hill, Blackburn has been charged with evasion of excise duty and was to appear before Blackburn magistrates today.

A woman, who has not been named, was released on bail for one week pending further enquiries. Customs officers are due to question her again next week.

A spokesman for the HM Customs and Excise office in Manchester said: "Two hospital workers employed by the health trust as porters were arrested after we received information that cigarettes were being sold to patients around the hospital.

"We have received the full co-operation of the health trust while investigating this matter and while carrying out the arrests."

Mike Hall, facilities manager at the health trust said: "We are happy to assist Customs and Excise with their investigations and we are working in conjunction with them as a result of their investigations.

"The two members of staff have been suspended from duty pending the results of the investigations currently being carried out.

"We are concerned about the incident and will consider any further action once we know the outcome of the current investigation.

"There is a no smoking policy throughout the trust but there are patients' rooms where they can go to smoke if they wish."