MOTORISTS familiar with rush hour may find it hard to believe – but Poole is one of Britain’s most car-friendly towns, according to a new survey.

It came in sixth, up from ninth last year, in the poll by Virgin Money Insurance. Bournemouth came in at 25.

The UK’s 65 largest towns and cities were rated for such things as petrol prices, number of speed cameras, car parks and cost of parking. Traffic and congestion did not come into the calculation.

Car crime was a factor, however, and Poole, along with Eastbourne, Colchester and Brighton and Hove, was found to be the best in this respect.

The most car-friendly place was Telford in Shropshire for the second year running. London was rated least car-friendly with Cardiff, Birmingham and Glasgow close behind.

Grant Bather of Virgin Money said: “Many local authorities do their best to ensure drivers aren’t treated like second-class citizens. Cars shouldn’t rule the road but motor-ists’ views need to be taken into consideration.”

Steve Tite, principal manager, transportation services, Borough of Poole, was “delighted”.

“I would like to think the improvements we are making to relieve congestion on main roads, together with Park Mark security status for most of our car parks, have gone some way towards this positive perception,” he said.

But Dean Williams, a director at Poole Radio Cabs, pointed to “extortionate” car parking prices and “nightmare” traffic.

“I suppose most car drivers would say that about any town,” he added.

“We all get frustrated with it.”