Beatles' cigarettes erased from box set cover

Capitol Records have air-brushed cigarettes from an original picture featured on the cover of a Beatles four-CD box set, in a bid to fit in with more health-conscious times.

The Capitol Albums, VOL 2 - which marks the first appearance on CD of the US versions of Rubber Soul, the Help! Soundtrack, The Early Beatles and Beatles VI - will see the Fab Four's former tobacco habit and two of Ringo Starr's fingers magically erased.

Previous Beatles reissues have also had their artwork changed - when I Want To Hold Your Hand was re-released in 1984 by EMI records, Paul McCartney's cigarette was removed from the original cover.

A US poster company also digitally removed the same Beatle's cigarette from its poster of the 1969 album Abbey Road three years ago.