PEOPLE in the West of Scotland are much more likely to develop lung cancer than anywhere else in the UK.

PEOPLE in the West of Scotland are much more likely to develop lung cancer than anywhere else in the UK.

For every two patients in the rest of the country, three people here will get the disease, a national study released today reveals.

And the National Cancer Intelligence Network warned those who developed the disease here were more likely to die from it.

Patients in the West of Scotland had a death rate 30% higher than the rest of Scotland - and a full 50% higher than the rest of the UK.

Researchers found that a man's risk of developing the disease in the south west of England is just two thirds that of women here.

Professor David Forman said: "Smoking rates are around 5% higher in Scotland and this significantly contributes to the higher rates of lung cancer.

"Smoking is responsible for nearly nine in 10 cases of lung cancer."

The report is based on a fresh analysis of figures from 2005 and does not include any impact from the public smoking ban, which started in Scotland in 2006 and a year later in England.

Prof Forman added: "We have later figures for Scotland but, unfortunately, the difference is still there.

"We need to be more imaginative in how we help people to quit smoking."

Professor Jim Cassidy, from Cancer Research UK's Beatson Institute in Bearsden, said he believed legal changes would make a difference longer term.

He said: "These measures would particularly help reduce smoking uptake in young people.

"We strongly support the government's commitment and look forward to real progress in these areas."

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said cancer remained a top priority and this would be shown in an updated cancer plan due to be published later this month.

She added: "We have already made significant progress in altering attitudes with the smoking ban and raising the age for tobacco sales from 16 to 18."