The majority of young people would pick a career in the booming video games industry over more traditional professions, according to new research.

Barclays surveyed children aged between 8 and 18 in Scotland and found that 73 per cent of respondents would choose a career in gaming over becoming a lawyer.

Meanwhile, 57 per cent would rather go with gaming than be a doctor or nurse and the same proportion would rather work in the games industry than be a professional athlete.

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The survey also suggested 45 per cent of children find video gaming more fun than the real world, with 57 per cent saying gaming is now their favourite hobby.

Some 48 per cent added they either streamed or would like to stream their gameplay on platforms like Twitch, a streaming service that allows users to earn money from posting their content.

Julia Cwierz is a law graduate and was the UK’s first recipient of the e-sports scholarship from the University of Roehampton in London.

She said: “This is going to create more jobs, with lawyers required to help professionals with contracts and media rights.

“I hope to find a position at a law firm specialising in e-sports and to become an expert in this relatively nascent field.

“There are plenty of other opportunities for passionate gamers to explore careers in the wider sector and so far, I have found it to be a friendly, collaborative industry eager to help the next generation turn their hobby into a career.”

Scotland has a rich gaming history, with Rockstar North - the company behind the hugely popular Grand Theft Auto franchise - based in Edinburgh and a number of other companies originating in Dundee.

Gavin Smith, relationship director for tech and media at Barclays Business Banking, said: “It’s encouraging to see more young people have the ambition to work in the video games sector, with the skills required to help the UK maintain its position as a gaming hub.

“Britain’s gaming ecosystem is thriving, already employing nearly 50,000 people across the development, creation and publishing of some of the world’s most exciting games.

“The government has introduced tax credits for producers to encourage them to create and publish their games in the UK, and our loan acts as an advance on these credits, helping with vital cash flow in the early stages of a game’s development.”