Aberdeenshire one of the happiest places to live in Scotland

Aberdeenshire has been ranked one of the happiest places to live in Scotland, in a new study.

Research for Royal Mail analysed eight separate measures thought to be linked to happiness, including life expectancy, crime levels and earnings.

Health services in Aberdeenshire scored highly in the study.

The area ranked third overall, placed just behind East Renfrewshire and East Dunbartonshire.

Highland (eighth) and the Shetland Islands (10th) were the two northernmost local authorities on the top 10 list.

Highland had the joint highest score for reported well-being across the UK, while the Shetland Islands' low crime rate and low deprivation levels edged it past other areas.

South Ayrshire finished in ninth position with its strong performance in access to local services.

Winchester was declared the happiest place to live in the UK.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said: "This new study takes a look at the areas across the UK sparking the most joy.

"For people across the UK looking to live in or visit the happiest places, there are plenty to choose from.''

Royal Mail commissioned Cebr to construct the happiness index earlier this year.

The eight measures studied were reported personal well-being, life expectancy, earnings, inequality, carbon emissions, crime, deprivation and access to health services.