Middlesbrough tops worst town poll
Updated on 15 October 2007
The north eastern town has soared to the top of this year's list of worst places to live in the UK.
Middlesbrough has topped a poll of the worst places to live in the UK.
The north eastern city has beaten a troop of apparently undesirable locations thanks to high crime levels, drug and health problems and poor education results.
Research for the poll was carried out for Channel 4 house-buying show Location, Location, Location. The independent survey was based on data from bodies including local authorities, the Home Office and Office for National Statistics.
Last year Hackney in London took the title, but this year the borough has slipped down to 12th place.
But Middlesbrough has taken a reverse journey, moving up from sixth place to poll position within a year.
Middlesbrough isn't a wealthy area. Average earnings are more than £6,000 less than the national average income and just over a fifth of the population rents from the council - the average in England is 13.21 per cent. Only 16 per cent of the adult population eat healthily - compared to 24 per cent across the UK.
Of the top 20 on the list, nearly half were in the north and a quarter were in London. But, despite a smattering of midlands and south Wales towns, there were no towns whatsoever from south England, Ireland or Scotland on the list.
Presenter Phil Spencer said: "Each year we seem to create a storm of controversy with this survey, but it's all based on official data and all we do is tell you the results.
Fellow presenter Kirstie Allsopp added: "What I want more than anything is to champion, not condemn, the places on the worst list as there are some real diamonds in the rough."
Towns and cities across the country will be on their best behaviour this week as they await the naming of the best place to live in the UK. Find out on Location, Location, Location: Best and Worst Live show on Wednesday at 9pm on Channel 4.
The 20 worst places to live
1. Middlesbrough - North East
2. Hull - Humberside
3. Newham - East London
4. Nottingham - East Midlands
5. Merthyr Tydfil - South Wales
6. North East Lincolnshire - Eastern England
7. Islington - North London
8. Blaenau Gwent - South Wales
9. Mansfield - East Midlands
10. Knowsley - Merseyside
11. Blackpool - North West
12. Hackney - East London
13. Stoke-on-Trent - Staffordshire
14. Barking and Dagenham - East London
15. Doncaster - South Yorkshire
16. Cannock Chase - Staffordshire
17. Manchester - North West
18. Haringey - North London
19. Burnley - Lancashire
20. Hartlepool - North East
