THE majority of Scots say the Edinburgh Festival, Robert Burns and the Highlands make them proud to be Scottish.

A study by independent think-tank British Future shows that 84% of people in the country have a strong sense of pride in the capital's festival and poet Robert Burns, while 96% are proud of the Highlands.

The report, This Sceptred Isle, from a YouGov poll of 2600 people, also reveals 83% believe it is not important to be white to be Scottish – a higher percentage than in England and Wales.

More than 70% of respondents said that paying taxes in Scotland, contributing to its society and considering yourself Scottish are all more important factors in being regarded as a Scot. However, 73% said it was important to be born in Scotland, while 52% claimed having parents who were born in Scotland was also a key factor.

Sunder Katwala, director of British Future, said: "In the years since devolution, Scotland and Wales have done more to create a more modern, inclusive pride in being Scottish and Welsh. But that a slim majority still think having Scottish-born parents makes you more Scottish shows more needs to be done to create a fully inclusive identity."

The poll also revealed 31% of Scots feel Scottish not British, 29% feel equally Scottish and British, while just 6% said they feel British not Scottish.