Two first-time buyers from Stirling have become the first couple to purchase a new home in the area with the help of the Scottish government's Low-cost Initiative for First Time Buyers (Lift).

Emma Irvine and fiance Christopher Kerr have taken advantage of the new scheme, which enables people with low incomes to buy a property with the help a housing association, 24dash.com reports.

Lift sees the buyer pay for the majority share - usually between 60 and 80 per cent of the total property price - by taking out a mortgage while a housing association funds the remainder.

Ms Irvine, a nursery supervisor, told the website: "We had originally been looking at one-bedroom flats but we ended up being able to buy a two-bedroom house with a garden, which we're both really happy with.

"I would definitely say to other people that Lift is worth looking into, because it has worked for us."

Meanwhile, figures released this month by the National Association of Estate Agents show the percentage of properties bought by first-time buyers increased in June.

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