Wolverhampton and are the least prosperous places in the 海角视频, according to new research.
The Black Country districts of Wolverhampton and neighbouring were placed last and second to last in terms of prosperity in an index compiled by a think-tank.
But the leader of the Wolverhampton City Council, Coun Roger Lawrence, claimed the research was out of date.
He said: 鈥淲hilst it鈥檚 fair to say that Wolverhampton took a battering during the recession with private investment pulled, traditional industries closing down and massive Government cuts, we鈥檙e now seeing some really positive signs of recovery.鈥
The first ever geography of prosperity index, released by the Legatum Institute, uses local GDP figures and Office for National Statistics well-being data to rank 170 areas across the 海角视频.
The London boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham, and Kensington and Chelsea headed the rankings, with the Outer Hebrides the only area outside the capital making it into the top five.
Blackpool, Liverpool and East Derbyshire complete the bottom five.
Sian Hansen, executive director at the institute, said: 鈥 that prosperity is about more than just wealth 鈥 it is about feeling that one鈥檚 life is worthwhile.
鈥淭he data shows that Wolverhampton is the least prosperous part of the 海角视频 because its citizens report the lowest levels of satisfaction with their lives in the whole country.
鈥淭he index shows that while robust economic success can make an area prosperous, this in itself is not enough.
鈥淪ome of the most prosperous areas of the country are those where, regardless of their income, people have the opportunity to lead healthy, fulfilling and prosperous lives.鈥
Historically, is used to the flak.
Queen Victoria was apparently so offended by the sight of the city when she travelled there on a train she asked one of her minions to drawn the blinds.
In 2009, the travel bible Lonely Planet said it was the fifth worst city in the world.
