A DATA crunch that combed the country for happy residents and good health has highlighted top spots in Oxfordshire.

Three districts in the county have once again graced Halifax’s annual quality of life survey, hailed as among the top 50 in the UK.

South Oxfordshire slipped from a second place ranking last year to sit at number 13 in the table, smashing Vale of White Horse at 39 but trumped by West Oxfordshire at 11.

Deputy leader of West Oxfordshire District Council Toby Morris said: “We are lucky that we are in a countryside location with good retail provision. We have got low crime rates and everything is well-run in terms of services.

“There is a variety of things to do, from having a picnic down at Minster Lovell ruins, going to Blenheim Palace or Cogges.”

South Oxfordshire District Council leader John Cotton said the achievement was ‘no great surprise’.

He said: “It’s an incredibly beautiful place to live with brilliant access to countryside, London and Oxford. We have got beautiful villages and strong towns. The quality of jobs in the area is a significant factor.”

Mr Cotton said one of his favourite places in the district was beauty spot Wittenham Clumps.

The report released today compiled data including earnings, weather, life expectancy and number of pubs nearby, from sources including the Office for National Statistics and the Met Office.

In February the bank’s rural quality of life survey ranked South Oxfordshire as number one in the country.