Winter Deaths Drop

According to figures from the National Records of Scotland, 18,675 deaths were registered in the four months to March this year.

That's the lowest figure since records began in 1951.

Research shows that the majority of people succumb to respiratory and circulatory diseases during the colder months.

Tim Ellis, Chief Executive of the National Records of Scotland, said:

"There are always more deaths in the winter in Scotland than in any other season, but last winter had the second lowest seasonal increase in all the years, since 1951/52, for which we have figures.

"The long-term trend over the last 60 years or so has clearly been downward. The five-year moving average, which smoothes out much of the year-to-year fluctuation, is at its lowest ever level.

"There is no single cause of additional deaths in winter. Very few are caused by hypothermia and only a small proportion by influenza. Most are from respiratory and circulatory diseases such as pneumonia, coronary heart disease and stroke."