SCOTS yesterday read the Riot Act to researchers who claimed in a survey that reading is a closed book to many north of the Border.

The survey suggests that Scots read the fewest books in Britain, with classics written by our own literary greats such as Burns and Robert Louis Stevenson proving the biggest turn-offs.

Its authors, the English-based business information group Key Note, faced protests after saying that Scots cannot get their nose into a book whether it be racy thrillers, Dickensian novels or gardening manuals.

They found 40% of people in England said they often read the works of novelists such as Jane Austen and Charles Dickens, while just one in four Scots admitted to regularly reading the classics.

According to the poll, even Scotland's tumultuous past held little interest for modern Scots, with just 32% saying they read history books, compared to 40% south of the Border.

Modern-day biographies of sporting stars, politicians and showbiz celebrities were regularly read by 39% of Scots compared to 45% in England.

When it comes to DIY books, fewer than one in three of Scots said they read up on handy household tips, compared to 37% in the south.

Only on romance did Scots match the reading habits of the rest of Britain with one in five on both sides of the Border lapping up Mills and Boon-type bodice-rippers.

A spokeswoman for Waterstone's Sauchiehall Street branch in Glasgow attacked the findings as ''absolute nonsense'' as they were based on the views of just 1054 people, including only366 Scots.

She said: ''How can they make such sweeping generalisations from such a tiny survey sample?

''In our experience, there is nothing to suggest Scots are buying fewer books and we find strong demand for home-grown classics by Burns and Sir Walter Scott.

''Maybe if they had polled a more representative sample, I might be more worried about their findings.''

Kathryn Ross, of the Scottish Book Trust, said: ''I am deeply suspicious of this survey's results as it runs counter to any previous findings. Scots have always been shown to borrow more books from libraries and read more newspapers than anyone else in the UK.

''Perhaps this survey shows we have been too complacent about Scots' reading habits, but our impression is there has been a rise in interest in books and particularly in new, young, Scottish writers.

''There has been a huge sea change in Scottish literature since Irvine Welsh produced Trainspotting.''

Mrs Doreen Shearer, of King's Park, Glasgow, browsing in Bargain Books in Argyle Street with daughters Jacqueline, 9, and 14-month-old Nicola, also dismissed the survey.

She said: ''Our family are all avid readers. Jacqueline reads anything and everything - if there's nothing else, she'll even read the back of the sauce bottles.''

Nationally, biographies have overtaken thrillers as the most popular books in Britain - 43% said they regularly read bio- graphies, compared to 40% who favour thrillers.

Recent top selling biographies include those of sporting heroes Kenny Dalglish, Kevin Keegan, and former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Jeffrey Archer.

A spokesman for Key Note said: ''A biography is a real life soap opera. There is a bit of the nosy neighbour in us all, so perhaps that is why we like biographies so much.

''We are fascinated with other people's lives and what goes on behind closed doors.

''Thrillers remain popular because we love to read about lives that are more interesting than our own.''