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Scots are the most neighbourly people in the UK according to an ICM poll conducted for iPM on BBC Radio 4.

The poll was inspired by an iPM listener who wanted to know how many people know their neighbours.

In Scotland 80% know their neighbours beyond just saying "hello", according to the poll.

In the south-east of England, the figure is 75%.

In the Midlands the figure is 76%, Northern England 77%, Wales and the SouthWest of England 77%.

Better off people are more likely to know the people next door (80%) than the lower social groups (71%).

Young people (18 to 24 year-olds) are more isolated from their neighbours than 55 to 64 year olds – with 64% knowing their neighbours compared to 88% for the older group.

There's little difference between town and country if you live in a house (80-81% of residents know the neighbours).

But if you live in an urban flat there's only a 50-50 chance you'll know who lives next door.

The results suggest that women are friendlier than men with 79% knowing their neighbours compared to 75% for men.

iPM is the interactive sister programme of Eddie Mair's PM show on Radio 4.

Every Saturday the programme is made using the ideas, experiences and expertise of its listeners, giving a new perspective on the week's news as well as uncovering previously unreported stories.

During the current series Eddie offered one listener the chance to come up with an opinion poll question to be conducted by ICM.

The Neighbours Survey was conducted by ICM from 15 to 17 May 2009; 1,002 people were interviewed on the phone.

Full results are on on the iPM blog.

PR