Two South Hams towns are named the best places to live in the Britain by the Sunday Times.

Kingsbridge and Totnes made the list, created by assessing factors such as jobs, exam results and broadband speed to culture, community spirit and local shops.

The methodology relies on hard data and robust statistics on crime and education, but also on expert knowledge from The Sunday Times judging panel.

The judges combine the numbers with their own experience of the villages, towns and cities, such as “local pubs, ease of transport and the range of attractive property” to ensure the chosen locations truly are places where readers and their families can “thrive”.

Commenting on The Sunday Times Best Places to Live, Home Editor Helen Davies said: “This is the fifth year we have compiled the list, and this year’s is even bigger and better - the guide is more personal, more detailed and more comprehensive than ever before.

“The list weighs up everything from considering the likely impact of the local plan, to whether the post office is still open, the range of housing, and the quality of the coffee.

“Numbers on a spreadsheet can only tell us so much, so we carefully balance statistics with our writers’ decades of knowledge and expertise to create the definitive list of the best places to live in the UK."

Johnny Morris, Research and Analytics Director at Countrywide plc, said: "Using extensive data from across our businesses, along with official statistics, we have been able to paint a detailed picture, not just of how much it costs to buy or rent in different places across the country, but what it is like to live there too.

“We’ve been able to do this for all types of people, from someone renting their first flat to a family buying their forever home."

Readers can join in the conversation online by sharing their favourite places and why they love them using the hashtag #stbestplaces.