IT'S a survey likely to anger thousands of Southampton women - not to mention their boyfriends and husbands.

The city has once again found itself struggling in the league, but this time when it comes to pretty ladies.

But it's not just being rated among the least pretty in Britain that is getting members of the fairer sex wound up, but the fact that they've been beaten by south coast rivals Portsmouth.

Southampton ranked tenth from bottom in the poll to vote for the home of Britain's sexiest girls - a whole six places below Portsmouth.

The crown for the UK's worst looking was taken by Glasgow while Geordie lasses came top of the pile.

A total of 3,000 men aged 18 to 30 from across the country voted Southampton ladies near the bottom of the league table of cities with the most attractive women according to the One Poll survey.

The controversial survey says local lovelies are lagging behind lookers from Cardiff and E d i n b u r g h who made it into the top ten.

John Sewell, m a n a g i n g director, of One Poll, said: "Despite so many northern cities featuring in the line-up, the south coast seems to suffer in the looks department too with ladies from Southampton featuring in the bottom ten."

Around 168 men voted Southampton the city with the least sexy women in the country putting it marginally higher than Coventry and Aberdeen.

Modelling agencies fiercely refuted these comments and the city's lowly ranking.

Barbara Taylor, company secretary of Southampton-based modelling agency Celcius Models, said: "These findings are crazy.

The voters are obviously looking in the wrong places. Our books show just how many beautiful people come from Southampton - our town should be in the top ten for most attractive people."

Paul Knight, managing director of modelling agency Knight Entertainment, said: "Every town has attractive women in it and Southampton certainly has its share. I am amazed we are in the bottom ten. I would have thought the top ten more likely."

High Street Honey Haley Parsons, 23, of Chandlers Ford hotly defends Southampton's honour.

She said: "There are lovely women in Southampton, loads of them are picked for modelling jobs I've been on because they are so beautiful.

I'm quite offended by the study.

"In a few parts of Southampton the women are slightly chavy but still very pretty."

Student Katie Motion, 23, Polygon, said: "I think it's very mean.

Southampton women do take pride in their appearance although they could possibly do better.

There are some very beautiful people in Southampton, I think they should try wearing boots and short skirts."