The easiest way to find out the truth would be to hold the real referendum and let all the people have their say

Conservative Party spokesman

NFO System Three interviewed 1,063 people in 41 Scottish Parliamentary constituencies from 3 to 9 January.

The Scottish National Party's economy spokesman Andrew Wilson said Scots were increasingly recognising the benefits of the euro.

"This is an argument that is there to be won," he said.

"But above all they are recognising that sterling offers the worst of all worlds for Scotland."

However, a Conservative spokesman said: "All the opinion polls suggest support for the pound is stronger in Scotland than in the rest of the UK.

"The easiest way to find out the truth would be to hold the real referendum and let all the people have their say."

The poll follows similar surveys in other European countries that have opted out of the euro - Denmark and Sweden - which indicate opposition to the single currency is falling.

Some countries opted out of the euro in a referendum

A similar poll by NOP for the Channel 4 Powerhouse programme earlier this week concluded that the number of British people against membership had dropped from 50% to 43% over the past year.

Half of those surveyed said they would be persuaded to support the currency if it was given strong backing by business and government.

In Denmark, which rejected the euro in a referendum, a recent poll recorded the highest-yet level of support for the currency.

It found 57% of people would vote to join the European Monetary Union, with 34% opposed and 9% undecided.

Euro coins and notes became legal tender in 12 EU member countries on 1 January this year.