ONE of the world's biggest tobacco firms is waiting to hear whether it has won a legal fight against a planned cigarette display ban.

Imperial Tobacco has challenged the Scottish Government's attempts to ban the open display of cigarettes in shops in Scotland at the Supreme Court in London.

Lawyers representing Imperial, which is based in Bristol, asked a panel of Supreme Court justices to analyse issues after twice failing to persuade Scottish judges to set aside legislative provisions.

A Supreme Court spokesman said justices had reserved a decision to a later date.

Ministers say display bans are needed to protect people from the "devastating effects" of smoking. Imperial says there is no credible evidence that display bans have cut tobacco consumption.