SOUTHAMPTON has been dubbed the "99th sexiest place" in the UK and the second sexiest place in Hampshire, according to new research.

According to research by sexual happiness brand "Lovehoney", Southampton ranked as the second highest place in Hampshire for sexual activity, and 99th out of 750 locations in the UK.

The city's 253,651 residents are said to have spent more per person on their sexual pleasure since lockdown began than anywhere else in the county except Portsmouth.

Rankings for other locations in Hampshire included Eastleigh, who came in at 291st, Winchester at 461st, Lymington at 642nd and Romsey at 711th, and according to the new research, Sunderland came in at the number one spot, with the highest amount of sexual activity.

A spokesperson for Lovehoney believes the rise in sexual activity is due to singles and couples "looking to escape the pressures of lockdown".

They said: “Southampton is Hampshire’s second sexiest place with a big rise in sexual activity since lockdown. We have seen a huge surge in activity in Hampshire as singles and couples look to escape the pressures of lockdown by experimenting more sexually. All our data shows that couples with great sex lives enjoy higher overall levels of happiness.”

The figures are based on Lovehoney’s extensive data on the UK’s sexual behaviour.