Brian Souter said the scanner should help reduce waiting times

The money, which was donated through charity Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland, will be used to fund and operate an MRI scanner at Ninewells Hospital.

The scanner will be used to detect early heart and lung disease.

Mr Souter said he hoped the scanner would help reduce the number of people who died from the disease.

"Heart disease is the number one killer in Scotland and I hope that the MRI scanner and the research it will carry out will help to decrease the number of people affected by this killer disease," he said.

'Huge impact'

"I am also pleased that the scanner will be available to the NHS to help reduce waiting times."

Professor Jill Belch, head of the university's Institute of Cardiovascular Research, added: "An MRI scanner is something which will allow us to broaden our research into new areas and will help us prevent heart disease, rather than merely treat it.

"This will have a huge impact on the lives of people in Tayside and Fife for many years to come."

People who are living in the Tayside and North Fife area who are over the age of 40 and do not have known heart disease can volunteer to take part in the scanning study which begins in the late Summer.