People in Scotland are keener to see the pound scrapped and the euro introduced than anywhere else in the UK, new research suggests.

The UK-wide survey of 2,000 people shows 57% against Britain joining the European single currency, with just 21% in favour.

Another 14% are undecided, according to the poll, while 8% do not care either way.

But when those figures are broken down on a regional basis, 28% of people in Scotland are in favour of the euro, closely followed by 25% in London.

There are strong views on keeping the pound

The survey was carried out by RSGB on behalf of FX Currency Services, a wholesale supplier of foreign exchange services.

Donald Mackenzie, the firm's managing director, said: "With the bank holiday and Jubilee celebrations having fuelled levels of patriotism across the UK, this latest study highlights the loyalty that people in Britain really feel towards the pound."

He added: "Perhaps more concerning is the number of people who really do not care about the UK currency either way.

"On this evidence, it is apparent that far more education is needed to at least allow people an objective view and possible vote should there be a referendum to decide once and for all."

The study also revealed:

• More women than men want to keep the pound - 59% compared with 55%

• Most support for the euro comes from men, with over 27% wanting to join against 16% of women

• Hostility to the euro seems most marked among the young and the old with 62% of both the 16-24 age group and the over-55s rejecting the idea of the single currency

• The Welsh (65%) and people in the East Midlands (68%) were most in favour of keeping the pound

The study asked 2,000 people how they would vote should there be an immediate referendum on the euro, but the dates it was taken and its margin of error have not been revealed.