Cancer death rates are almost 80 per cent higher in the most deprived parts of Scotland compared with the most well-off, new figures show.

The statistics revealed that mortality rates for all cancers combined were 79 per cent higher in the most deprived areas compared with the least deprived, while incidence of the disease was 34 per cent higher.

Overall last year 15,270 people died from cancer in Scotland – up from 15,119 in 2009.

While the total number of cancer deaths has increased in the last decade, due to the ageing population, death rates have dropped by almost 12 per cent – down 15 per cent in men and 7 per cent in women.

But there has been a 11 per cent increase in lung cancer deaths in women in a decade.

Cancer Research UK public affairs manager Vicky Crichton said: “Much more must be done to help those smokers who are ready to quit and reduce the devastating effect that tobacco has on so many lives.”

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: “We welcome the fact that cancer mortality rates have decreased by almost 12 per cent over the past ten years.

“Tackling cancer – on all fronts – is a key health priority for NHS Scotland and we have put in place a wide range of measures to minimise the impact of the rising trend in the incidences of cancer, including our obesity strategy.”