WORCESTER has been ranked in the top 10 UK destinations for its heritage - beating the likes of Bath, Durham, Bristol and York in a stirring verdict on the city's fortunes.

Experts have placed the city on a pedestal alongside places like London, Oxford and Cambridge after assessing a huge range of detail on its heritage offer.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has been working with a society which encourages the arts to compile Britain's first ever online database comparing towns and cities for their history.

The number of listed buildings, blue plaques, conservation areas, parks and nature reserves, historic battlefields, locally-themed food and drink products and heritage-themed events, societies and clubs are included in more than different 100 indicators designed to methodically compare the entire nation like never before.

Visitor numbers, tally of young people exposed to an area's heritage via school trips to historic venues, volunteering and industrial heritage - from the old Royal Worcester Porcelain factory to Kays - were also among the vast indicators.

Worcester's ranking of 10th puts it in the top four per cent of the 325 areas ranked in the UK Heritage Index - with city leaders hailing the verdict.

The Battle of Worcester conflict, historic buildings like Worcester Cathedral, The Commandery, the Guildhall, world famous brands like Worcestershire Sauce and even the influence of Sir Edward Elgar, with the spin-off his legacy created, are all factors influencing the high ranking.

Phil Douce, from Worcester Civic Society, said: "I think it's brilliant, wow - it's fantastic.

"We've got a lot more to do but we're getting there."

Councillor Lucy Hodgson, the city council's cabinet member for history and heritage, said: "Worcester is steeped in heritage with a wealth of historic buildings across the city, creating a unique and appealing atmosphere for residents and visitors alike.

"We're Britain’s premier civil war city with the first and last battles of that great conflict being fought here.

"The great thing is that many of our historic assets, such as the Guildhall and The Commandery, where Charles II’s HQ was based during the Battle of Worcester are right in the heart of our city playing a vital role in people’s everyday lives."

The rankings, published by the Royal Society of Arts, puts London top with Kensington and Chelsea, Scarborough, Cambridge, Hastings and Oxford making up the top six.

Carole Souter, chief executive of the Heritage Lottery Fund, said: ‘We hope this new index will help communities to better understand their heritage, identify its potential and capitalise on what make their areas distinctive."

To see the interactive database go HERE.