Scotland's most deprived area has been revealed in new government figures.

Ferguslie Park in Paisley, Renfrewshire, has been named the country's poorest and most deprived area in a new Scottish Government publication known as the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD).

The housing scheme is followed by four areas in Glasgow - Carntyne West and Haghill; North Barlanark and Easterhouse South; Old Shettleston and Parkhead North, and Nitshill.

The least deprived area in Scotland was named as Lower Whitecraigs and South Giffnock in East Renfrewshire.

It was followed by Midstocket in Aberdeen; Marchmont West in Edinburgh; St Andrews South West in Fife, and Comely Bank in Edinburgh.

Communities secretary Angela Constance said the latest figures highlight the "significant long-term challenge" of tackling deprivation.

The figures also showed the council areas with the largest increase in deprivation were West Dunbartonshire, Midlothian, North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire

The figures show part of Ferguslie Park sits at the top of the SIMD table but council bosses and poverty campaigners believe an anti-poverty programme started last year is already making a difference.

Renfrewshire Council leader Mark Macmillan said: "The council has adopted an innovative approach to tackling poverty, recognised as leading the way in Scotland - and the SIMD stats are based on data from last year which does not fully capture the impact of that.

"The figures show the overall picture for Renfrewshire has improved and we believe we are making a difference on the ground.

"Last year, our Tackling Poverty Commission provided a detailed study of the root causes of deprivation and was the first of its kind in Scotland to look at child poverty on a local level.

"We backed that up with a two-year £6m Tackling Poverty programme - with 50 projects covering education, health, digital and cultural participation, employability and income advice."

He added: "In the four years since the last SIMD figures were released, Renfrewshire has seen a 10% real-terms drop in the cash coming our way from Holyrood.

"It's also worth saying Ferguslie itself has a strong sense of community - a recent survey showed 47% of people rated it as a very good place to live.

"The deprivation issues affecting Ferguslie and similar areas are long-term and deep-rooted - there are no easy solutions but through our unique approach, we believe we are on the right track."

Dr Jim McCormick, associate director Scotland to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: "Ferguslie Park is not unique - there are neighbourhoods like it in other parts of Scotland.

"Renfrewshire's approach to tackling child poverty is comprehensive and the council was the first in Scotland to do it in that way.

"But it will take some time for impact to be felt and the SIMD is a snapshot based on last year's data which does not show that yet.

"The SIMD stats are useful but don't show everything. The geography of deprivation has shifted in the last generation - struggling and better-off families can be living a street away from each other."

Ms Constance said: "The SIMD is important - and widely used in both the public and third sectors - because it clearly sets out where the most deprived areas in Scotland are so we can ensure public funding, policies and services can be targeted most effectively.

"While changes in methodology mean it's not possible to compare directly with previous years, SIMD is always a good reminder of why Scotland needs a government committed to tackling deep seated deprivation, poverty and inequalities.

"This will not be an easy job while we do not have the full levers of power but I am determined we take on the challenge of making a generational change for those areas that have been in poverty for too long."

She added: "In the face of continuing UK Government welfare cuts, an austerity agenda and attempts to take Scotland out of Europe, this will continue to be a long-term challenge.

"We are spending £100m protecting people against the worst effects of welfare reform and every pound spent on mitigation measures is a pound less that can be spent on lifting people out of poverty.

"But while UK Government policies are making matters worse for people on low incomes, we will continue to do all we can to tackle poverty and inequality.

"That is why we are currently consulting on our aims to eradicate child poverty and to ensure our social security system will have dignity and fairness at its heart.

"Our consultation on ending child poverty outlines ambitious long-term targets reaching as far as 2030.

"This problem needs continuous action and that is why our Fairer Scotland Action Plan, which will be published this autumn, will set out the range of ambitious actions we will take in this parliamentary term and beyond."

The SIMD is used by some charities to direct their resources or to attract funding, as well as to help communities and organisations identify neighbourhood issues.

Clare Steen, business development officer from Wester Hailes Youth Agency in Edinburgh said: "The Wester Hailes Youth Agency works with young people aged eight to 25 in south west Edinburgh.

"We use the SIMD to identify need where we work. Funders often ask us to back up what young people tell us with statistical data and the SIMD is really useful for this."