A PROPERTY study has urged commuters heading into Edinburgh for work to "save money" by buying their home in Dunfermline.

Zoopla looked at combined mortgage and rail season ticket costs to work out the best-value locations for those looking to live within an hour's travel of Britain's major cities, including the Scottish capital.

And they've calculated that for those employed in Edinburgh, the most affordable commuter town is Dunfermline with the bill for living and travel typically coming to £7,530 a year.

Laura Howard, consumer expert at the Zoopla property website, said: “As the new season ticket prices come into effect this month – much to the frustration of the millions of commuters across Britain – those looking to relocate to save money should pay close attention to these figures."

After Dunfermline, the most cost-effective options for Edinburgh commuters are Falkirk, Linlithgow, Airdrie and Coatbridge.

This kind of study backs the decision to build thousands of houses in West Fife, with around 7,000 planned for Dunfermline alone in the next decade, although there are concerns about the impact on education, transport and healthcare facilities.

The study made certain assumptions about typical mortgage costs, which were based on a two- or three-bedroom home and a 15 per cent deposit.