The findings of a major study into the smoking ban in Scotland supports calls for a worldwide ban of the practice in public places, health officials said today.

The research, which was first revealed last year, found a 17% fall in hospital admissions for heart attacks in Scotland in the first year of the ban.

It also showed an 86% reduction in second-hand smoke in bars and considerable public support for the legislation, even among smokers.

The research, which was undertaken by Glasgow University and commissioned by NHS Health Scotland, has now been published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Sally Haw, principal public health adviser at NHS Health Scotland, co-ordinated the research programme.

She said: "The findings from the Scottish study of heart attacks are of worldwide importance.

"The combined results from the evaluation provide a compelling case for other countries to implement a comprehensive ban on smoking in public places."