The frustration of mobile phone users, particularly in rural areas, being unable to make calls or send texts is a common bugbear in Scotland.

Areas such as Shetland, the Western Isles and Argyll and Bute are high on a new list of council areas where users suffer from 'partial not-spots' where they have coverage from some but not all of the four mobile networks. In some cases, the diluted service leaves them with no coverage.

Now UK ministers have pledged to eliminate poor mobile coverage that blights a fifth of Britain and are in talks with the networks, EE, O2, Three and Vodafone in these areas. It has launched a consultation to help achieve it. The talks will give the Government the chance to hear views from all interested parties.

It follows discussions with the mobile companies in recent months in an attempt to find a voluntary solution and this work by the industry is expected to continue while the consultation runs.

Culture Secretary Sajid Javid said: "I'm determined to ensure the UK has world-class mobile phone coverage as investment in infrastructure will help drive this Government's long-term economic plan.

"It can't be right that in a fifth of the UK, people cannot use their phones to make a call. The Government isn't prepared to let that situation continue."