FRIENDLY people, good schools, a low crime rate and high employment - the ingredients any parent would choose when looking for somewhere to raise children.

A survey has found one Hampshire town which scores highly on all those counts, coming sixth in a league table of 408 local authorities for family life.

Two other Hampshire towns made the Top 50 - Eastleigh in 22nd place and Winchester 46th. The overall favourite was East Dunbartonshire in Scotland.

Hundreds of parents were quizzed in the Reader's Digest survey which asked them to identify the factors they felt were most important to family life.

The factors were weighted and then measured against Home Office crime figures, unemployment rates and house prices.

Fareham parents felt the town had good schools, low crime levels, high employment and a friendly atmosphere.

Businessmen in the town were not surprised Fareham was so highly rated.

Fishmonger Peter Cripps, 76, owner of P&S Cripps where he has worked since 1944, said: "Fareham is handily located for everything. You've got big cities either side and beaches and lovely country is also not far away. I'm not surprised by the survey, it is not a perfect town but it is adequate for all our needs."

Sean Woodward, leader of Fareham Borough Council, said: "Fareham has the highest level of home ownership in the country which does a lot, as do good schools and facilities.

"There are jobs and the environment is good so Fareham's an ideal place to live, work and, as the survey shows, bring up a family."

Reader's Digest editor-in-chief Katherine Walker said: "What parents value is the network of concerned neighbours, teachers and community groups that makes for safe streets, strong schools and thriving towns."