RESIDENTS of a Hampshire town depend on cars more than any other town in the UK, new statistics have revealed.

According to figures from the Office for National Statistics, Fareham had the highest numbers of cars compared to its population.

As part of an audit of European cities and towns, statisticians found the town had the highest motorisation rate with 538.7 cars for every 1,000 residents.

It comes well ahead of the next UK destination Bracknell Forest, in Berkshire, which has 522.2 per 1,000.

Neighbouring communities proved more environmentally friendly with Southampton having 354 registered cars per 1,000 people and Portsmouth 324.4.

However, Fareham motorists still come way behind car loving residents in Polish town Zgierz, which is the most car dependent town in Europe with 1,333.5 cars per 1,000.

Figures, which are taken from 2009 to 2011, for Fareham put it well above the average of 436 per 1,000 people and in the top 15 per cent in Europe.