Ross and Shona Ramsey have just bought their first home at Stewart Milne Homes' Laird's Gate development in Stewarton, Ayrshire, using the Scottish Government's Help to Buy scheme.

The couple have bought a three-bedroom detached property, which cost them £189,950, with a mortgage of £142,460 and a 5 per cent deposit £10,763. Help to Buy then provided 20 per cent.

Until now Ross, 28, an accountant and Shona, 27, who works for NHS Scotland, have always rented. Shona said: "We've been really keen to buy our own place for years but because we were renting we just couldn't save for a deposit. We also couldn't afford to have a really high monthly mortgage payment so it was essential for us to have a decent deposit to help us bring that down.

"We knew that the only way we could buy was by using Help to Buy and so we went to a development where it was available."