Residential sales have risen 14.5% in Scotland, according to new research.

New data published by Registers of Scotland (RoS) reveals a total of 28,779 properties were submitted for registration between October and December last year.

The figure represents the highest volume of sales for any quarter since Q1 in 2008/09.

It is understood the highest rise of sales volume was in Midlothian, with an annual increase of 30.2% to 539 sales compared with 2014.

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Edinburgh also recorded its highest volume of sales at 3,532, up 21.4%, while Aberdeen experienced a fall of 12% to 1,274.

Prices in Inverclyde climbed 13.1% to £132,382, while Edinburgh held the highest average at £233,255.

The largest percentage fall was in Dumfries and Galloway, which dropped 9.9% to £130,275.

RoS' commercial services director, Kenny Crawford, said: "As well as a significant increase in the volume of sales this quarter, prices have reached their highest since RoS began compiling quarterly statistics in 2003. This increase is more modest, up 1.6 per cent to £167,734. Combined, this indicates a more robust and active property market."

(LM)