North Ayrshire Council has launched a new digital strategy to help improve the lives of residents.

The strategy outlines how the local authority will build on previous work to deliver more effective and efficient high quality services.

Called Smarter Ways of Working, the blueprint ensures residents will remain the council's top priority.

The document lays out how the local authority will help people become more digitally aware.

Staff will be engaging with individuals by supporting them to get online at libraries or working with Community Planning Partners to provide people with skills for work.

North Ayrshire Council leader Joe Cullinane said: "The new digital strategy is about ensuring people are at the heart of what we do, engaging with residents when designing services and choosing technology, and making sure we support them to make the most of their technology.

"We know that digital inclusion is a huge issue. Most of our residents will access the internet on a day-to-day basis - about 80% of people - but that means there is still a significant number of people who don't have internet access or the skills they need to make the most of it.

"That matters because research shows that those who don't have digital access can be worse off between £500 and £800 a year.

"We can support our residents who are not digitally engaged in a variety of ways, whether that's helping them find cheaper gas and electricity or getting them online for the first time."