Rural towns in the north of Scotland are the most entrepreneurial in the country, a study has indicated.

Research by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) found smaller, wealthier communities in the rural north were more likely to have high levels of self-employment, while poorer towns elsewhere have much lower levels.

The FSB used census data to analyse self-employment in 479 towns.

Ullapool and Newtonmore in the Highlands were found to be the most entrepreneurial, with more than 17% of people self-employed.

Other towns in the top ten included Tarbert in Argyll and Bute, Comrie in Perth and Kinross, and Fortrose in the Highlands.

Gowkthrapple in North Lanarkshire, Garelochhead in Argyll and Bute, and High Valleyfield in Fife were at the other end of the scale, with less than 3% of people self-employed.

Other towns in the bottom ten included Linwood in Renfrewshire and Port Glasgow in Inverclyde.

Andy Willox, the FSB's Scottish policy convener, said: "This data shows the most successful local communities have high numbers of people who are their own boss.

"Unsurprisingly, popular tourist destinations are awash with smaller firms. Scotland's market towns still have thriving business communities too.

"We find high levels of unemployment and low self-employment in towns that bear the scars of Scotland's industrial decline, suggesting that poverty is a barrier to self-employment and the social mobility that comes with it.

"Research shows that you're less likely to set up on your own if you have few skills, have little in the way of cash reserves, if you don't have a car or own your home."

There are now more than 200,000 Scottish people who are self-employed, the FSB said.

A plan to boost entrepreneurship has been produced by the organisation. It recommends measures to protect people's incomes, educating children about enterprise, putting empty property to use, funding for colleges and universities to help student start-ups and action to cut red tape.

Mr Willox added: "We need to get behind those people and places that want to change their circumstances. Boosting self-employment and business activity could help to turn around some of Scotland's most disadvantaged places."