THE Malvern Hills have the highest standard of living in any rural area in the West Midlands, a new report has concluded.

Halifax's annual Rural Areas Quality of Life Survey ranked the district top in the region, just ahead of Wychavon.

The list is decided based on residents' health and life expectancy, crime rates, weather, employment, school results, broadband access and personal wellbeing.

Nationally, Malvern Hills was rated 25th.

John Dixon, one of the vice-chairmen of Malvern Civic Society, said: "I came here in 1999 and have never regretted it.

"It's a very pleasant, attractive and easy place to live.

"Of course the hills themselves are the highlight, they're such a fantastic piece of geology sticking up out of the Severn Vale.

"You can get up to the top in half an hour and be in a different world, with views right over the whole of central England.

"They give us that extra-special element, but the town itself is a lovely, small and interesting place."

The survey is based on data from various sources including Halifax, the Office for National Statistics and the UK, Welsh and Scottish governments.

Rutland in the East Midlands came out on top nationally, with Chiltern in Buckinghamshire second and Uttlesford in Essex third.