Nearly 4,000 deaths have been prevented in Ireland as a result of the smoking ban introduced in 2004, according to new research.

Brunel University in London, DIT in Dublin and the Tobacco Free Research institute say that the lower death rate from smoking related illnesses is primarily due to a reduction in passive smoking rather than a reduction in active smoking.

The study shows there has been a 26% reduction in deaths from heart disease, a one third drop in stroke deaths and a 38% reduction in chronic lung disease mortality.

The authors estimate 3,726 smoking-related deaths have been prevented by the ban.