Billion Pound City Deal Hope

Fife and the five other South-East councils have agreed on how to bid for billions of pounds in extra funding.

The city region deal, between Edinburgh City, Borders and Mid, East, and West Lothian councils will aim for around £1 billion of Scottish and UK Government money.

Projects in transport, social housing, green energy, economic regeneration and digital connections would receive investments.

The local authorities hope to attract another £3.2billion from businesses, which they estimate would create tens of thousands of jobs and provide a lasting 5percent boost to the region's economy.

Plans are at stage one. which must receive backing from both Governments before the councils can start working out the exact finances behind the scheme.

Stage two, with full financial models would then need approval before the region gets any money.

It's hoped the agreement will follow the success of similar deals in Glasgow and Manchester which attracted billions in additional funding.

Officials say the deal will be targeted at "maximising the opportunities afforded by the region's world class research base" and would look to exploit the wide range of technologies in the area.