PARTS of Dumfries and Stranraer are among the most deprived in Scotland, according to a new report.

The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) publication identifies places where people are experiencing disadvantage across different aspects of their lives.

And parts of Dumfries Central, Summerville, Lochside and Lincluden, Stranraer West and Stranraer East are all within the top ten per cent most deprived areas.

Parts of Stranraer West are 78th most deprived overall, while areas of Lochside and Lincluden were ranked 173rd.

And sections of Annan East fall into the second most deprived category.

South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth blasted the results as ‘completely unacceptable’ and said: “I believe these figures underestimate the scale of poverty in our region. The index shows where there are high populated areas with a concentration of people on low incomes. That fails to recognise that the population in rural areas is more spread out with smaller pockets of real poverty not just in one area. I believe we would benefit from a different measure of rural poverty.

“It beggars belief that in 2020, your postcode can still be the determining factor in your quality of life.”