THE number of deaths in Scotland has fallen to its lowest level for more than 30 years, figures have revealed.

At the same time the number of births is continuing to rise.

Register Office for Scotland figures showed a total of 12,770 deaths in Scotland in the second quarter of this year.

This was 723 fewer than the equivalent quarter last year - and the lowest April to June figure for "at least" 30 years, officials said.

The figures also show a 10.7% fall in the number of deaths from coronary heart disease, a 6.5% fall in stroke deaths and a 0.6% fall in cancer deaths.

The second quarter also saw 14,866 births, almost the same as the second quarter of last year and nearly 600 more than the same quarter in 2007.

Registrar General Duncan Macniven said: "The memorable part of today's figures is the low number of deaths. Death rates fluctuate and we shouldn't make too much of a single quarter.

"But we've seen a reduction in the last two quarters, giving the lowest number of deaths and lowest death rate in the first half of a year for at least three decades."

The figures also show the number of marriages fell slightly, from 7904 in the second quarter of 2008 to 7872 in the second quarter of this year.

But the number of civil partnerships went up in the same period, from 114 to 145.