THE quality of life in East Dorset is the highest in the South West, a new survey has said.

But this year's 39th national place for East Dorset is a tumble from being rated fifth in the country just last year.

The second annual Halifax Quality of Life Survey tracks where living standards are highest in Great Britain.

The survey places a ranking on towns across the UK, based on a range of factors including life expectancy, weather, earnings, house prices, health, crime and education.

Top of the Halifax Estate Agents survey was Wokingham in Berkshire where 95 per cent of people were in good or fairly good health, men's life expectancy is 80, average earnings are £744 per week, 84 per cent of folk own their own home, and houses have an average of 6.2 rooms.

By comparison, in East Dorset 92.3 percent of people were in good health, life expectancy for men was 81, weekly average earnings are £520, while 84.3 percent of people own their own homes, and houses have an average of 5.78 rooms.

A Halifax spokesman said the figures were based on a number of variables and any number of factors could account for why East Dorset had slipped down the league tables.

Alan Breakwell, chief executive of East Dorset District Council, said: "The council is very pleased to be ranked as the local authority with the best quality of life in the South West.

"It is a great place to live, work and visit and the council will continue working hard to ensure all residents and visitors can benefit from and contribute to the East Dorset environment."

North Dorset came in at number 56, improving on last year's placing of number 80.

Christchurch was rated number 60 in the top 300, dropping four places.

Poole was ranked number 97 improving on last year's place of 105 and Purbeck was at 102, dropping from last year's place of number 45.

Bournemouth was ranked at 260 out of 300, a rise from last year's rating of 315.