EASTLEIGH is the friendliest place in Hampshire, according to new research.

But researchers at Cambridge University put Southampton ahead of only Portsmouth at the bottom of the friendliness stakes as they created a personality map for the whole of the UK.

Southampton got 42.8 in the “agreeableness” category, but was still far higher ranked than London and Bedfordshire, considered the least friendly places in the country.

Eastleigh was considered the friendliest part of Hampshire, with a score of 63.4, with Gosport also scoring highly with 60.6.

However the city ranked highly for emotional stability in the survey, which saw 400,000 people questioned by university researchers.

Residents in Winchester were considered some of the country's most extrovert people with a score of 62.6, marginally behind residents in London, Manchester and High Wycombe.

People from Eastleigh, Fareham, Gosport and Test Valley all did well in the conscientiousness ratings with scores of more than 60, while people in Winchester and Southampton were both considered among the county's most open residents.

The study was based on data gathered by the BBC as part of its Big Personality Test.

Dr Jason Rentfrow, from the University of Cambridge's Department of Psychology, said: “Understanding how personality traits differ by region is more than just 'a bit of fun'.

“Geographical differences are associated with a range of economic, social and health outcomes - and hence how important resources are allocated.

“Although participants in an online test are self-selecting, the demographic characteristics are representative of the British population, so we can develop an accurate snapshot of the psychology of the nation.”

How each area of Hampshire fared:

Area Extraversion Friendliness Conscientiousness Emotional Stability Openness Southampton 50.2 42.8 41.3 55 52 Eastleigh 40.4 63.4 62.9 41.1 36.4 Fareham 45.6 52.5 63.2 41.3 31.7 Gosport 44.7 60.6 61.1 42.5 36.3

New Forest

56.5 50.2 57.5 49.2 42.9 Test Valley 48.1 54.7 61.4 49.1 47.4 Winchester 62.6 53.6 54.6 41.2 54.6 Basingstoke 47.4 47.3 54.1 52.8 43.1 East Hampshire 52.4 55 61.6 46.4 45.4 Hart 48.7 57.8 54.2 39.7 47.5 Havant 38.1 47 57.2 49.9 44.7 Rushmoor 59.3 41.8 52.9 61.4 44.8 Portsmouth 52.9 39.9 37.2 51.1 56.1