Middlesbrough 'worst place to live'

Middlesbrough has come top of a poll of worst places to live in the UK.

The city has been given the undesirable title thanks to high crime levels, severe drug and health problems, and poor education results.

Researchers have ranked the best and worst UK places for the Channel 4 show Location, Location, Location.

Last year, the London borough of Hackney was ranked the worst place to have a home. This year it comes 12th on the same list.

Hull is second, followed by Newham in east London

Middlesbrough has dropped from sixth worst place last year and fifth place in 2005.

Researchers found that Middlesbrough has one of the highest crime rates in the UK. The city, in the North East, is one of the top 10 places in the UK for theft from a car, theft of a car and burglary.

Its residents are paid on average an annual salary of £16,998 compared with a UK average £23,580, making it the 16th lowest salary in the UK.

Estimates suggest that about 27% of adults in Middlesbrough binge-drink, way over the 18% England national average.

Only 16% of the adult population eat healthily and 10% are physically active, compared with 24% and 12% national averages respectively.