RURAL communities are at risk of being left behind unless there is further progress on broadband and mobile coverage in Scotland, MPs have warned.

Members of Westminster's Scottish Affairs Committee have called on the UK and Scottish governments to work together following "intense political disagreement" over the roll-out of broadband north of the border.

MPs also stressed that remote areas "must not be forgotten" in plans to deliver universal access to mobile coverage.

The committee has made a series of recommendations on digital connectivity following its inquiry into the issue.

It found that, while access to superfast broadband has improved in Scotland over the past few years, it still lags behind coverage in England.

MPs also found a significant difference between coverage in rural and urban areas, with the former tending to have poorer coverage and slower speeds.

On mobile coverage, the committee found Scotland continues to lag behind the rest of the UK, with only 30% of the country covered by 4G services from all operators.

Its recommendations include a call for the UK and Scottish governments to "find ways to effectively work together to provide coverage to the whole of Scotland".

Ministers have been at odds over delivery of broadband, with the UK Government earlier this year questioning Scottish Government claims it has met a key target to provide 95% coverage in Scotland of state-of-the-art fibre broadband.

The report also welcomes the actions of both governments to provide broadband coverage to the so-called final 5%, although it questioned whether the proposals go far enough to meet consumers' needs and the delivery costs.

Committee chair Pete Wishart said: "Digital connectivity is an essential part of modern life and an indispensable tool for stimulating economic growth.

"Throughout the course of our inquiry, witnesses highlighted the value of reliable, fast broadband and mobile coverage and many members of the public and community groups got in touch to raise the problems they had getting online.

"Scotland's challenging geography and remote communities make it one of the most difficult places to deliver broadband and mobile coverage in Europe and, while good progress has been made, there is still more to do.

"Our report makes recommendations about the way forward and emphasises the importance of both governments working together to make this happen."

The Scottish Government said figures show that mobile and superfast broadband coverage has dramatically improved in Scotland over recent years.

It welcomed the report, but said it recognises there is more to do.

A spokesman added: "We also want to find ways to work collaboratively with the UK Government but, for that to happen, UK ministers must increase UK Government investment to deliver the services customers expect, given regulatory and legislative responsibilities for telecommunications are wholly reserved to UK ministers.

"In the face of inadequate UK Government investment, Scottish ministers have pledged 97% of the £600million cost to extend superfast broadband access, at 30-megabits-per-second or better, to 100% of premises in Scotland by the end of 2021.

"Scottish ministers have also announced the £25million Scottish 4G mobile infill programme designed to push 4G coverage beyond commercial rollout."

A UK Government spokesman said: "The UK Government's rollout of superfast broadband has helped take coverage to 95% of UK homes and businesses, and we are reaching thousands more every week.

"We have already invested more than double the funding per head in Scotland than the rest of the UK for superfast broadband, and our Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review being published today sets out our ambitions for digital connectivity, including a nationwide full fibre network by 2033, and how that will be delivered.

"We want to make sure no-one is left behind and will continue to work with the Scottish Government and local authorities all around the UK on building a Britain that is fit for the future."