PARKING permits in Scotland's two largest cities are among the most expensive in the UK, according to new research.

Households in Edinburgh pay up to £280 a year to park outside their own home, more than some Londoners, while Glasgow residents have to stump up as much as £250 a year depending where they live.

The cities are among the ten priciest local authority areas in the UK for residential parking, with City of Edinburgh council ranked as the fifth most expensive above the London boroughs of Hackney and Lambeth, and Glasgow coming joint ninth with two English district councils.

After Glasgow and Edinburgh, Perth and Kinross is the next most expensive in Scotland, billing residents up to £190 annually, followed by Aberdeen and Fife will charges of £120 and £90 respectively.

However, Scotland also boasts the cheapest parking permits too, with South Ayrshire council only charging residents as little as 50p a year for an allocated space on their street. Others charge nothing.

The survey, by car insurance specialist, Churchill, asked each council to disclose its lowest and highest permit price.

Steve Barrett, head of Churchill Car Insurance, said: "Parking controls and permits play a huge part in keeping roads safe and clear, as well as ensuring residents have priority over spaces surrounding their property. Our research shows that parking permit costs vary considerably across the UK, so we'd urge motorists to factor this in when looking to purchase a new vehicle, especially if it is an additional vehicle."

Councillor Alistair Watson, Glasgow's Executive Member for Sustainability and Transport, said: "Parking permits protect residents from long-stay commuter parking and prices vary depending on location, from £50 in our resident parking zones to £250 in the city centre."

A spokeswoman for Edinburgh City Council said: "Permit prices in Edinburgh relate directly to the environmental impact of a vehicle and residents can purchase a permit for as little as £34 per year.

"Charges for permits are essential for managing limited kerbside space and any surplus income goes back into the transport infrastructure for the benefit of the city as a whole."