Scots laugh loudest

There was an Englishman, an Irish man and a Welshman - but it was the Scotsman who was found to have the best sense of humour. Scots emerged top of the comedy pile because they tell the best jokes, a new study into Britain's laughter habits revealed yesterday.

Volunteers wrote down their favourite joke for testing on other groups. Scottish jokes got a 92 per cent success rate and Irish jokes came second, followed by Welsh quips. English wit limped in last, tickling a mere 12 per cent of funnybones.

The survey of 5,000 people also found 68 per cent of men are better joke tellers than women.

Tracey Zetter, spokeswoman for the maker of a new Basil Brush video which commissioned the poll, said: 'It looks like we all need to take a leaf out of the Scots' book when it comes to laughter.'