Researchers at Edinburgh University say imaging tools to identify abnormalities that cause heart attacks are to be developed in a £1.8m initiative.

The project could also provide an insight into conditions such as strokes, with the findings having the potential to save thousands of lives each year.

Coronary heart disease is the most common cause of death worldwide, killing one person in the UK every seven minutes

The funding will go towards advancing techniques to spot life-threatening changes in people living with heart disease.

Professor David Newby said: "Heart attacks are often missed, with a third of people misdiagnosed as having non-heart chest pain later dying from heart disease.

"Better tools are desperately needed to help identify those most at risk."