A HAMPSHIRE town has been listed as one of the most desirable places to live and work in the UK.

Economists placed Chandler’s Ford sixth in the list of British cities with the best quality of life.

The area that forms part of Eastleigh is housing 21,376 according to the latest census and has 8,896 households.

Tucked between major cities such as Southampton and Winchester, Chandler’s Ford features many recreation areas, schools, shops and eateries.

Margaret Atkinson, chairman of Chandler’s Ford Parish council, said: “ We appreciate it is one of the best place to live in the country.

"One of the several reasons is that there are very good schools in the area with high standards and it’s a very safe community.”

“We regularly receive reports from police to say that it is one of the safest areas in the Eastleigh borough”, she added.

Mrs Aitkinson also pointed recreation areas, open spaces and parks as some of the other reasons that made Chandler’s Ford reach the top ten.

“We do have very nice recreation areas used by children and young adults and the Parish council is looking to improve them even more”, she said.

Chandler’s Ford forms part of Eastleigh, in which the parish falls under their control with Eastleigh Borough Council.

Chandler's Ford East Cllr Haulwen Broadhurst, said: “This is a very good news. Chandler’s Ford is a very good place to live.

"We have very good public transports that makes people reach cities such as Southampton, Winchester or London very easily.

"It’s not far from the sea or the New Forest either and it isn’t an overpopulated area.”

TOP 10:

1. Bebington, Wirral

2. North and north west Norwich, Norfolk

3. Broadstone, Poole

4. Sale, Greater Manchester

5. East Cowes, Isle of Wight

6. Chandler's Ford, Hampshire

7. Ipswich, Suffolk

8. Horsforth, Leeds

9. Dronfield, North East Derbyshire

10. Earley, Reading