Alex Salmond was yesterday asked to support an end to tax discrimination against bingo in Scotland.

The importance of bingo to community spirit was outlined to the First Minister when he visited a bingo hall in Fraserburgh to call his first game and heard how it was an industry in crisis.

Although it was his first attempt as a caller he admitted he once played the UK's second-most popular adult activity in the UK, after fishing, with an aunt.

"If the bingo hall was a leisure centre attracting as many weekly visitors across the country, the Scottish and UK governments would be doing more to support the industry in the face of a real danger of extinction," said Brian King, operations director of Carlton Bingo.

He said that the smoking ban had seriously affected attendances which in turn had affected the prize money, staff and the mood in each bingo hall.

In addition, the industry had faced its biggest shake-up in 20 years with the introduction of the Gambling Act which had introduced more layers of bureaucracy.

Since the introduction of the act there had been a significant fall in revenues across the bingo and gaming industry and in many cases, margins had been eradicated completely and there was "a circle of decline".

He said no other gaming sector was exposed to the unfair tax disadvantage imposed on the bingo industry which was united in its call for the removal of VAT on bingo participation fees.

Mr Salmond assured Mr King he would do what he could to help.