THE Ribble Valley has been named ninth best place in the country to bring up a family.
First place went to East Dunbartonshire in the Reader's Digest poll.
The report said safe streets, strong schools and thriving towns backed by a strong community appeared to link the winning places.
Reading, Berkshire, was ranked last, in 408th place.
Good state schools and a low crime rate were seen as most important requirements for a family-friendly area, closely followed by good hospitals and affordable family housing.
The magazine survey polled 1,162 parents with children aged under 16 and asked them to rate the characteristics of family-friendly locations on a scale of one to 10.
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