Towns in Ayrshire have dominated a list of the most affordable places to live.
Estate agent Zoopla calculated the best places in the UK to buy a home, based on the average house prices compared to a typical couple’s gross annual earnings.
And it found that all of Scotland's hotspots can be found in across North, South and East Ayrshire, with places such as Kilbirnie and Cumnock ranking in third and fourth place respectively, while Stevenston, Irvine and Girvan are also in the top 10.
The Square, Cumnock
No other region of Scotland makes the top of the list.
Zoopla said Ayrshires affordability was linked to two key factors – strong earnings locally and more reasonably-priced property, with average house prices in all of these towns below £65,000.
Shildon in County Durham has been identified as Britain’s most affordable town, with average house prices equating to around £6,000 more than a typical couple’s gross annual earnings.
READ MORE: East Ayrshire named most affordable area in Britain
The average house price in Shildon is £59,468 while the average earnings of a couple living there were put at £53,446, giving an average house price-to-earnings ratio of 1.1.
Ferryhill, also in County Durham, was also in the top 10 most affordable towns for home buyers, with a house price-to-earnings ratio of 1.35, according to the research compiled by Zoopla.
Harbour Street, Irvine
Grainne Gilmore, head of research at Zoopla, said: “This data shows where buyers can benefit from some of the most affordable markets across the country, especially movers who have built up some equity in their current home.
READ MORE: Paisley named Britain's top property hotspot by Rightmove
“Capital values in the north of England and Scotland are relatively lower than in the south of England, meaning that many of the most affordable areas are clustered in these regions.”
The research looked at the 1,000 largest towns in Britain.
Girvan is a seaside town
Here are the most affordable towns, according to Zoopla, with average gross household earnings for a couple followed by average house prices and the house price-to-earnings ratio:
1. Shildon, County Durham, North East, £53,446 - £59,468, 1.11
2. Cleator Moor, Copeland, North West, £82,924 - £96,269, 1.16
3. Kilbirnie, North Ayrshire, Scotland, £62,338 - £76,303, 1.22
4. Cumnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland, £61,859 - £77,414, 1.25
=5. Egremont, Copeland, North West, £82,924 - £80,694, 1.29
=5. Stevenston, North Ayrshire, Scotland, £62,338 - £106,771, 1.29
7. Ferryhill, County Durham, North East, £53,446 - £72,264, 1.35
=8. Ferndale, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, £55,297 - £77,421, 1.40
=8. Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland, £62,338 - £87,478, 1.40
=8. Girvan, South Ayrshire, Scotland, £63,102 - £88,587, 1.40
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