Shropshire is in the national top 10 for quality of life and well ahead of Telford, a new survey revealed today.

The Place Survey was carried out by the Department of Communities and Local Government last year.

It is based on local authority area, which is why Shropshire and Telford are listed separately.

County residents are happy, healthy and get on well with their neighbours, while problems with drugs, drink and yobbish behaviour are below the national average.

And the area covered by the old Shropshire County Council – since replaced by Shropshire Council – comes ninth in the country, narrowly beaten by Devon, Dorset, Rutland and affluent London boroughs.

A massive 87.5 per cent of Shropshire people are satisfied with their local area as a place to live and 83.6 per cent feel people with different backgrounds get on well together.

It also found 88.8 per cent of people aged over 65 are satisfied with their home and neighbourhood.

Telford & Wrekin, while beating Shropshire for clearing up litter, doorstep recycling, local transport information, bus services, sport and leisure facilities and theatres and concert halls, lags behind on quality of life.

Telford’s figures show 78.2 per cent are satisfied with the local area, 72.9 per cent getting on well together and 81.5 per cent over 65 satisfied with home and neighbourhood.

Councillor Andrew Eade, Telford & Wrekin Council leader, said: “We will be looking at the results of the survey with interest.”

For more see today’s Shropshire Star