A SHOCK report has highlighted the gap in deprivation between our local towns and villages.

The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) ranks almost 7,000 small areas covering all of Scotland from most- to least-deprived. It combines data from across the UK and Scottish Governments, police and the NHS and is promoted across a range of groups to use the statistics to benefit communities.

In Cumnock, the Cumnock south and Craigens area ranked as the worst.

The reports shows that there is also high deprivation in Auchinleck and the Smallburn area of Muirkirk.

The southern part of Doon Valley als faired poorly.

In comparison, the Holmhead area of Cumnock and Mauchline proved to been much more affluent.

One local MP says that the new report should leave the Tory government 'ashamed'.

Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock MP, Corri Wilson said: "These figures are a damning indictment of the UK Government’s record, which should leave the Tories deeply ashamed. These are problems that have developed over very many years, the Scottish Government is being forced to spend £100million a year mitigating the worst excesses of Tory welfare cuts.

“With new limited power over disability benefits devolved to Holyrood this week, we have the opportunity to put respect and dignity at the heart of a Scottish social security system. But the key drivers of poverty and inequality – sanctions, maladministration and cuts to benefits – will remain controlled by a Tory government that have shown themselves to be completely disinterested in the human impact of their cuts agenda."

The index is used to help the Scottish Government, local councils, the NHS and the third sector target investment and policies and forms part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to making information as open and transparent as possible.

Communities Secretary Angela 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. 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 £100 million 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."