Support for Scottish independence has reached its highest level for more than six months, according to a new opinion poll.

The survey found 39.3% said they would be voting Yes in September's independence referendum, compared to 47.6% who said they wanted Scotland to remain part of the UK.

The remaining 13.1% of those who were questioned were undecided, according to the survey, which was carried out by polling firm Survation for the Daily Record newspaper and the Five Million Questions project at Dundee University.

It is the highest support for independence since August last year, when a poll by Panelbase found 44% of people backed Scotland leaving the UK.

Survation questioned 1,0002 people aged 16 and over between March 6 and March 7 for the research, which also looked at how Scots could vote in the next Holyrood election.

That put the SNP ahead of Labour, with 44.6% of people saying they would vote for Alex Salmond's party in the constituency section of the ballot and 34% planning on supporting Johann Lamont's party.

Meanwhile the Tories had the backing of 13% of those questioned, with 5% saying they would be voting for the Liberal Democrats and 3.3% planning on voting for other parties.

Michael Marra, director of the Five Million Questions project, said that it would be an "astonishing achievement" if the Yes campaign won the referendum.

He said: "The hill for the Yes campaign to climb remains considerable. Everyone who is currently undecided has to make the leap to independence."

Mr Marra added: "Winning from here for Alex Salmond would be an astonishing achievement."