Cancer cases are on the rise across the UK as a whole

Researchers have attributed the drop to a decrease in the number of people smoking north of the border.

The Cancer Research UK study found that more than 31,000 people in Scotland developed cancer in the year 2000 - a drop of 4% in three years.

The number of cancer cases rose by 6% in England and 3% in Wales over the same period.

In the UK as a whole, more than 270,000 people were told they had cancer in 2000 - a rise of 3,000 on the previous year.

Highest rates

The study said there was a sharp increase in cases of skin, uterine and prostate cancer and a fall in the diagnosis of stomach and cervical cancer.

The rise was attributed to the fact that Britons are living longer.

Cancer Research UK said Scotland had the highest rates of cancer in the country.

Smoking rates have been reduced in Scotland

However, it said Scotland was starting to "buck the trend" by recording a reduction in cancer cases.

Professor Robert Souhami, director of clinical and external affairs, said: "It's particularly encouraging that Scotland's very high cancer rates are finally starting to come down."

Cancer Research UK said this was largely down to Scotland's success at persuading people to give up smoking.

In the late 70s, almost 50% of all adults in Scotland were smokers. That figure has now fallen to less than a third.

Lung cancer in men has fallen by 15% in the space of five years.

'Open-ended consultation'

Anti-smoking groups said this evidence highlighted the need for legislation to ban smoking in public places.

First Minister Jack McConnell said on Wednesday that he thought an outright ban might be "impractical".

He said the Scottish Executive would carry out an "open-ended consultation" on the issue.

I hope the measures we will outline will help us maintain the momentum and encourage more people to stop smoking Malcolm Chisholm Health Minister

However, he said there would not be specific proposals for a complete ban on smoking in pubs and restaurants.

Mr McConnell said he favoured designating local smoke-free zones.

He added that the fall in cancer cases "cannot be unrelated" to the drop in smoking levels.

Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm welcomed the fall in lung cancer cases.

"Our tobacco action plan will be launched shortly and I hope the measures we will outline will help us maintain the momentum and encourage more people to stop smoking," he said.