The survey, carried out by the Universities of Sheffield and Manchester, used data from the British Household Panel Survey, where people were asked about their sense of wellbeing. The researchers were then able to draw up a map of happiness down to a local level across England, Scotland and Wales. Cumbernauld and Kilsyth came joint fourth with Monklands, after Powys, Manchester, and West Lothian.

Cathie Craigie MSP said:

"These findings are great praise for a great place."

"Having lived locally all my life it's fantastic to see our community thriving and looking optimistically to the future."

"There's a lot more to do in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, but it's fantastic to see our towns talked up rather than down."