Wolverhampton least well-off in Britain
Wolverhampton and a neighbouring West Midlands borough have been ranked as the least prosperous parts of Britain in an index compiled by a think tank.
The first ever geography of prosperity index, released by the Legatum Institute, uses local GDP figures and Office for National Statistics well-being data to rank 170 areas across the UK.
The London boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham, and Kensington and Chelsea headed the rankings, with the Outer Hebrides the only area outside the capital making it into the top five.
Wolverhampton and the Black Country borough of Sandwell - which includes West Bromwich - were placed last and second last in terms of prosperity, with Blackpool, Liverpool and East Derbyshire completing the bottom five.
The London-based Legatum Institute, which describes itself as an international public policy think tank aiming to promote prosperity, said the findings were based on average incomes and how happy people feel.
Sian Hansen, executive director at the institute, said: "The geography of prosperity index reveals that prosperity is about more than just wealth - it is about feeling that one's life is worthwhile.
"The data shows that Wolverhampton is the least prosperous part of the UK because its citizens report the lowest levels of satisfaction with their lives in the whole country.
"The index shows that while robust economic success can make an area prosperous, this in itself is not enough.
"Some of the most prosperous areas of the country are those where, regardless of their income, people have the opportunity to lead healthy, fulfilling and prosperous lives."
