THE Ribble Valley has been named as one of the top ten destinations for people to retire.

The rural borough is the eighth most popular place in England and Wales for last time buyers to settle according to research by estate agency Yopa.

The top ten is revealed in its '2019 Downsizers Guide' compiled after a survey of 1,000 homeowners aged 55 plus. Fareham in Hampshire is the most popular retirement destination followed by Chester.

The entry for the Ribble Valley says it 'is best known for the beautiful Forest of Bowland, but natural scenery aside, it also boasts low crime rates and a large amount of its population has a high overall life satisfaction'.

Ben Poynter, chief executive of Yopa, said: “I'd urge people to investigate new locations they might not have considered before - for affordable house prices and close proximity to the sea, why not consider Fareham in Hampshire? Or for beautiful scenery and low crime rates customers could look at Ribble Valley in Lancashire.”