St Albans has been named among the least stressed places in England, according to a recent study.

The research - conducted by the Abbey Care Foundation - analysed key metrics such as percentage of smokers in the area, median weekly pay, hours worked and percentage of inactivity.

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St Albans came fifth in the table, with Surrey Heath, Lichfield, Dartford and Rochford ahead of the city.

The Roman city of Verulamium has a stress index of 72.1, with Surrey Heath topping the table on 68.

A spokesperson for the Abbey Care Foundation said: "According to a study conducted last year, St Albans was rated one of the best places to live in England in 2022.

"In this ranking, it places as the fifth least stressed area in the UK.

"YouGov found that high stress can lead to increased numbers of smokers and St Albans has one of the lowest percentages of smokers at 5.4 per cent.

"On top of that, St Albans has higher median wages of £684 per week and only 36 per cent say they have never worked from home, again suggesting a good work-life balance that can decrease stress."