Families love living in the Herts of Britain

HeRtFoRDSHIRe is the best place to raise a family in the UK, while east and north ayrshire are the worst, according to a survey.

Good pay and weather, top GcSe grades, fast broadband and access to GP surgeries helped put Hertfordshire at the top of an index of 138 local authorities based on 33 aspects important to family life.

Hertfordshire boasts the third highest employment rate in england with 81 per cent of residents aged 16 to 64 in work and an average annual salary of £33,435, while 64 per cent of pupils achieve five or more a* to c grades at GcSe.

east and north ayrshire suffered the poorest ranking owing to higher crime, lower exam results and lower pay, according to the uSwitch Better Family life Index.

those living in the region earn an average of £26,962 a year and 67 per cent of people aged 16 to 64 are in employment. only 35 per cent of pupils achieve five or more a* to c grade GcSe-equivalents.

cambridgeshire and central Bedfordshire took second and third places respectively in the index, making the top three all in the east of england. the others in the top ten were: 4 Warrington; 5 york; 6 tyneside; 7 norfolk; 8 northumberland; 9 West cumbria; 10 calderdale and Kirklees.

leicester was ranked worst in england and second from the bottom overall. the Isle of Wight, recently criticised by an ofsted chief, was 135th out of 138.

the Isle of Wight did better in an index of counties with the best quality of life for pensioners across england and Wales, coming fifth equal with east Sussex.

Dorset was top of the Quality of Retirement Index from Prudential. the others in the top ten were: 2= Herefordshire, West Sussex; 4 Devon; 7 Rutland; 8 Dyfed; 9 norfolk; 10 Surrey.