A VILLAGE in West Oxfordshire has been named as one of the best places to live in the country.

Chadlington, a few miles south of Chipping Norton, will sit alongside just 14 other locations in the South East to make it onto The Sunday Times list last weekend.

As well as boasting a deli, a butcher and a cafe, the village plays host to the Great Brook Run, a unique challenge that sees competitors run through a brook before sliding themselves through a tight tunnel.

In December, former Prime Minister David Cameron braved the brook run and was snapped looking a little worse for wear as he ascended a hill.

Parish councillor Zoe Townsend spoke to the Oxford Mail about why Chadlington, where the average family home is £696,480, was held in such high esteem by critics.

She has lived in the village for 39 years after moving in with her husband, John, who was born and raised in Chadlington and never wanted to leave.

Mrs Townsend said: “He’s something like the fifth generation of his family to live in the village so that has a lot to do with it – but also he was just happy with the life he lead here.

“It’s got fantastic facilities: a sports club that does football and cricket, three shops and a primary school. It’s very self sufficient.

“There’s a really good community spirit in the village. There are a lot of lovely people and we all look out for each other.”