HAMPSHIRE is renowned for being a picturesque place to live.

Now a tenth of the top 50 places to live in the UK have been named as districts in the county.

Halifax Bank recently released their annual Quality of Life survey which rates the top areas to live in the country.

Based on a range of issues, including health and life expectancy, personal wellbeing, crime rates and weather, Hart, which is centred on the town of Fleet, was named number one for a fifth year in a row.

Its residents are the healthiest in the UK, with more than 97 per cent saying they are in good health.

The district boasts large open spaces of heathland and woodland as well as Hampshire’s largest freshwater lake.

Winchester dropped from third to fourth but other Hampshire districts saw sharp rises, with Eastleigh now 18th, up from 53rd, the New Forest at 31 from 59, East Hampshire 33 previously 110 and Test Valley now placed 49th – previously 82.

Michael Rescorle, director of Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), Hampshire, said: “Hampshire really is a fabulous county so it does not surprise me that Hart and the city of Winchester, where I have lived for many years, are at the top of the league.

“The climate and the beautiful countryside which CPRE Hampshire has does so much to protect makes it an unrivalled place to live, work and play.”

The study also found Winchester has the highest level of employment in the UK with 87.4 per cent, followed by the Orkney Isles at 86.3 per cent and Eastleigh in Hampshire at 85.3 per cent. The UK average is 72.9 per cent.

Mayor of Eastleigh, Cllr Jane Welsh, was pleased to hear the news and hopes to push the borough up by more places next year.

Cllr Welsh said: “Eastleigh is one of the best boroughs around. I think it is a lovely place.

“As mayor you get to visit lots of places and I can see why we are there because it is a lovely place and people like it.

“The shopping facilities are good and the residential areas are first class.

“I think we do do well. We keep council tax down and look after our residents very well.”

The South East dominated the annual list, with seven of the top 10 places and 27 overall.

However, nowhere in Scotland, Wales or N.Ireland made it into the top 50.

(Top 10 – for panel) Local Authority – Region – 2014 placing)

1. Hart, South East, 1.

2. South Oxfordshire, South East, 21.

3. Chiltern, South East, 5.

4. Winchester, South East, 3.

5. Rutland, East Midlands, 4.

6. Waverley, South East, 10.

7. Mole Valley, South East, 19.

8. Guildford, South East, 23.

9. South Cambridgeshire, East of England, 13.

10. Rushcliffe, East Midlands, 8.