Western Isles

PEOPLE living in the Western Isles are the happiest in the UK, a new survey has found.

The islands’ residents from Lewis to Barra are top of a new list of the happiest areas in the UK, followed by Orkney Islanders, who rank second.

The statistics, released by think tank the Legatum Institute, show the Geography of Prosperity Index (GOPI) for different areas, measuring happiness as well as physical wealth.

The happiest people also contain some of the poorest areas, with incomes in the Western Isles are just £15,000 a year - 135th out of the 170 areas.

The island communities were viewed as happier than mainland areas because of their sense of community and security, the survey found.