Over 50% of Scots believe Scotland will be independent by 2031, according to a new poll.

The Panelbase poll for The Sunday Times revealed that 28% of Scots believe Scotland will become independent within five to ten years, with a further 27% backing independence in at least 10 to 15 years.

Twelve per cent of those polled said they thought Scotland would not become independent at any point in the next few decades.

The poll, which was carried out in January 2016, also revealed that only 27% of Liberal Democrat voters believed Scotland would become independent by 2031.

However, 33% of Conservative, 46% of Labour and 75% of SNP voters said independence would be declared in the next 15 years.

The Panelbase poll also showed that the majority of Scots want the UK to remain in the European Union, with 47% backing a new independence referendum for Scotland if Britain votes to leave the EU.