IT should come as no surprise, but the key to happiness is to work less hours and go for a drive in the country, a new report has suggested.

The latest data from the Bank of Scotland Happiness Index, which rates people's contentment with their daily commute and the amount of hours they work, found that part-time workers are happiest.

Close behind them were people who commute through the Highlands, where the dramatic scenery and rural environment apparently never fails to raise some cheer.

The index quantifies how happy Scots are and provides scores for different groupings. Part time workers ranked top of the table with a happy points tally of +42.05, while the average overall was +37.40.

The latest survey from the Bank found that women enjoy working shorter hours - defined as between 8 and 29 a week - more than men, while part-timers aged 55 and over were the happiest workers of all.

Young people fresh from university and those with young families were the least likely to be happy working fewer hours, with a substantial dip found among 25-34 year olds and the 35-44 year olds.

There were also substantial variations across the country, with Highlanders enjoying working 30 hours a week or more, while Aberdonians weren't so keen on working full time.

Despite the congestion on some of Scotland's busiest roads, most commuters travel by car, and it's drivers and their passengers who are happiest with their trip to work.

The relative freedom of travelling by car means they have a happiness score of +40.17, with drivers in the Highlands enjoying their daily commute so much they scored +45.97.

Commuters in Mid-Scotland dislike the daily drive the most, while Aberdeen was judged to be the place where drive caused the most unhappiness, according to the city's residents.

Travelling by bus resulted in the second happiest commuters, while walking came third, despite the dreich Scottish weather.

Unsurprisingly, the people who are most happy about commuting are those who live close to their work or actually reside on the premises. Farmers and those who work from home were said to be the are happiest commuters as their work is on their doorstep, while almost a third of Scots have a journey to work that lasts between 15-30 minutes.

Almost a fifth of Highlanders went so far to say they loved their commute, while Aberdonians were more likely to moan about theirs, with 10 per cent they actually hated the trip to work.

Mike Moran, Director at Bank of Scotland said: "When it comes to the hours we work and the time we spend commuting, Scots are pretty happy overall. It's understandable that the happiest in Scotland are those who work between 8 and 29 hours a week, with a happiness score above the +37.40 Scottish average for workers.

"Highlanders have the highest regional happiness score for workers at +46.34 and also go so far as to say they love their commute in to work. With the stunning scenery there though, who wouldn't?"