How happy is your town? Map shows the UK's happiest places

Residents of the Outer Hebrides were the happiest people in the UK over the past year, says the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The ONS's latest survey says people on the remote islands scored their happiness level at an average 8.24 out of ten.

People in Mid and East Antrim, in Northern Ireland, are also a contented bunch, awarding their home county 8.39 for life satisfaction.

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But if you live in the east Midlands, you could be in need of a bit of a pick-me-up. East Northamptonshire is the least happy place in the country, while residents of Corby report the lowest life satisfaction.

The ONS findings rank parts of the country that are happiest, most miserable and most anxious, along with the highest and lowest satisfaction levels.

Daily Mail

East Northants, by contrast, has nearly three times as many residents, is landlocked and is a mixture of small towns and countryside.

Overall levels of well-being stagnated in 2015-16, despite the fact the country is getting wealthier. According to the Mail, world events such as the refugee crisis and terror attacks are to blame.

The fact that happiness has improved steadily over the past five years will come as cold comfort to Londoners, who still live in the most anxiety-ridden place in the country notes the Daily Telegraph.

"Londoners rated their anxiety levels at 3.04 out of ten, while those in the Outer Hebrides came in at a cool 2.26," it says.

Five happiest places

Outer Hebrides, Scotland

Mid and East Antrim, Northern Ireland

Newark and Sherwood, Nottinghamshire

Purbeck, Dorset

Orkney, Scotland

Five most anxious places

Hammersmith and Fulham, London

Brighton and Hove, East Sussex

East Northamptonshire

Merthyr Tydfil, Wales

Sutton, London