The ranking is the result of research by academics who poured over data from 12,000 homes in the UK.

And to find out if the glove fits, the Evening Post spoke to people in Preston to discover if their lives make them happy. And it appears happiness has a lot less to do with just where people live.

John Whitside, 60, from Kirkham, sells antiques on Preston market. He said: "I have no reason not to be happy. I am happy with my job, my marriage, my children."

While Ray Watson, 35, from Ribbleton, said: "I lost my job a couple of days ago and I am still happy, it is not everything. You have to look on the bright side."

For others the weather was more important, or the happiness of those around them, in determining their well-being.

University worker Denise Milner, 41, from Callon, said: "As long as my family and friends are happy and those I work with are happy I'm happy."

Factors which made many people unhappy related to crime and alcohol or drugs.

The study, conducted by Dr Dimitri Ballas, from the University of Sheffield, and Dr Mark Tranmer, University of Manchester, analysed data from the 2004 British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) and the UK Census, looking into the feelings of happiness of residents.

The study revealed "unemployment does not lead to unhappiness, as long as neighbours are also out of work."

Dr Ballas said: "The environment, lack of green spaces, air and noise pollution, crime rates – all of these influence happiness".


For more on this feature and to see how other local towns fared in the survey, see Friday's Evening Post.


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