Development chiefs hope to lure tourists to the Highlands and Islands after a survey of 160,000 people showed its residents were the happiest in the UK.

The poll was carried out by the New Economics Foundation, which published its analysis of National Statistic Office (ONS) data.

A spokesman from Highlands and Islands Enterprise said: "The Highlands and Islands is a great place to live, combining the attractions of a spectacular natural environment with an excellent quality of life.

"Our unemployment figures are consistently significantly lower than both the Scottish and UK averages. Taking all of these factors into account, the results of the ONS National Wellbeing Survey come as no surprise."