Cheer up! We've got more money in our pockets in Shropshire

New data released by the Office for National Statistics has revealed that we have more available cash to spend on those little treats or put away for a rainy day.

The ONS has produced estimates of gross disposable household income for different areas of the UK, which show the amount of money people have left to spend or save once taxes and mortgages or rent are taken into account.

While the West Midlands as a whole saw its disposable income grow by 2.2 per cent, one of the best rates of any region, Shropshire folk found they had 4.69 per cent more to spend between 2012 and 2013, while in Telford & Wrekin the figure was 3.55 per cent higher.

The increase in disposable income leaves Shropshire residents with £18,085 per head to spend or save – the 58th highest out of the 173 local authorities surveyed around the UK.

It is also above the United Kingdom average of £17,559.

The average Telford & Wrekin resident is estimated to have £15,320 to spend after the two key costs are removed, placing it further down the list in 121st place.

People in Powys had more to spend, but had enjoyed a lower rate of growth, following an increase of 3.04 per cent to £16,667 over the course of the year to leave it in 89th place.

Wales had enjoyed an increase of 2.2 per cent.

Other results revealed that people in Leicester have the least money to spend or save each year, at £11,739.

Unsurprisingly, Westminster in London was the council area with the most free cash, with an astonishing average of £43,577.

Residents in the London boroughs of Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham, Camden, the City of London and Wandsworth typically had more than double the disposable income of the average UK resident, the research found.

The local area which enjoyed the strongest growth in disposable household income per head was the Scottish Borders, which achieved a 5.2 per cent rise.