With its picturesque coastline, boutique shops, restaurants, great schools and transport links, Leigh has been named as the second happiest place to live in the UK in a new survey.

Rightmove placed the town in its top ten Happy and Home Index, published today.

The town was beaten to the top spot by Royal Leamington Spa.

More than 17,000 people across Great Britain took part in the Rightmove study which asked residents how happy they are where they live, and also asks them to rank 12 happiness factors.

In total they ranked 159 locations, and London, where average living costs and house prices far outweigh the rest of Great Britain, fared poorly.

The 12 factors in the study range from how friendly the neighbours are and how much people feel they can be themselves, to how good the local services are.

Echo:

Abiola Oni, Rightmove’s research manager, added: “We’ve looked at the connection between each of the factors and what contributes to how happy people say they are overall, and it’s the people in an area and how someone feels about living there that makes the biggest difference.

“So the strength of community spirit, people feeling like they belong and that they can be themselves are all more important than the services and money that they have, though these do still contribute to overall happiness.”

The ranking was welcomed by Leigh town councillor Caroline Parker. She said: “That’s absolutely wonderful to hear. All of us who live here think it's a wonderful place to live.

“This is the second time we have been in the top five. Everyone who lives here loves it.”

She added: “Leigh is a unique little place. A town with a vintage feel. I hope we can hold on to this uniqueness.

“It has a lovely feel and has a lovely selection of shops and bars and of course it is right near the sea. We also have an excellent wood, Belfairs, to the north of the town. We also have interesting houses.

“What more could you want? I am very proud to live here and I love it to pieces.”

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Sir David Amess, MP for Southend West, said: “It comes as no surprise to me that Leigh is the second happiest place to live in the UK. Who wouldn’t be happy to learn that the value of their home has risen?

“Leigh is an extremely desirable place to set up home in and attracts visitors from all over the country. There is a wonderful community spirit in Leigh whereby neighbours look out for each other.”

Sir David added: “It is a very diverse area with a rich range of culture, not to mention excellent local schools.

“Finally, it costs nothing to smile and that is what most people in Leigh do when they see me.”

However, Leigh has, in fact, dropped a place this year as it was named as the happiest place to live last year!

Richmond-upon-Thames was the happiest place in London.