Preston has been named as one of the spookiest places in the UK according to new data.

The results show that Preston has ranked sixth on the list of spookiest towns and cities, coming in just behind Liverpool and Nottingham and Leicester.

The data, compiled by OnlineMortgageAdvisor.co.uk, considered seven factors to give it an overall spooky score:

  • The number of cemeteries
  • Paranormal sightings
  • Abandoned homes
  • Spooky roads
  • Safety at night
  • Level of crime
  • Annual sunshine

Preston has had 300 reported paranormal sightings, ranking it first place with Newport and Birmingham for ghostly activity.  It also has 180 cemeteries and 140 abandoned homes.

Awarded first-place for the spookiest city was Newport followed closely by Birmingham, which has 200 scary road names such as Hallow Close, Hanging Lane and Dark Lane.

Top 20 spookiest places in the UK

  1. Newport
  2. Birmingham
  3. Leicester
  4. Nottingham
  5. Liverpool
  6. Preston
  7. London
  8. Wolverhampton
  9. Coventry
  10. Reading
  11. Glasgow
  12. Leeds
  13. Sheffield
  14. Northampton
  15. Stoke-on-Trent
  16. Manchester
  17. Swansea
  18. Dundee
  19. Peterborough
  20. Derby