ARE you Hampshire's very own Victor Meldrew?

Living with you or working alongside you could be someone who is the original Mr or Mrs Grumpy.

No amount of happy banter can lift them from thinking life is just one dark tunnel.

If you know someone who fits this description then the Daily Echo wants to know.

It could be a husband, wife, work colleague or friend.

For the Daily Echo is determined to reverse a depressing trend which has made Southampton frontrunners in the nationwide league of miseries and grumblers.

As the paper revealed at the weekend, a national survey has claimed that Southampton is considered one of the unhappiest cities in Britain.

Researchers quizzed 2,000 people across the UK and found Southampton to be the most miserable place to live - beating Plymouth, Edinburgh, Norwich and Manchester to claim the dubious title.

They asked people how happy they felt and how often they smiled.

The happiest cities were found to be Leeds, Belfast, Sheffield and Newcastle and the most jovial professions included those working in healthcare, finance and media.

Now the Daily Echo is asking you to tell us about the Mr and Mrs Glums you know who could do with some cheering up.

For we are determined to get Southampton and Hampshire smiling again.

Meanwhile, Hedge End based entertainer "Twinkle" said she doubted that people in Southampton were as miserable as the survey suggested.

She said: "I don't think people round here are miserable at all. There are plenty of us entertainers working around here. We have lots of street parties in our road so I don't believe the survey at all."

Her godson, 11-year-old Benjamin White, a pupil at Berrywood school in Hedge End, also agreed.

And to prove it, he told the Daily Echo a couple of his favourite jokes to put a smile back on people's faces.

Ben's jokes are: Q: What do you get if you cross a giraffe with a dog? A: An animal that chases low-flying aeroplanes instead of cars and, Guest: "Waiter, can I have breakfast in bed?" Waiter: "Of course, but most guests have it on a plate."

REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL:

We still have a Premiership Football Team.

We have more parks per head of the population than any other city in Britain

We live in the country's richest region.

The beautiful New Forest is on our doorstep

The Isle of Wight is just a ferry ride away

The Mayflower Theatre is the best in the region

We are the largest cruise liner port in Britain

We built the Spitfire

West Quay shopping centre is the best in the south

We are not Portsmouth (cheap jibe, we know)

Do you live with or work with or are you married to a real misery guts? If so, let us know at the Daily Echo, Newspaper House, Test Lane, Redbridge, Southampton SO16 9JX or e-mail newsdesk@soton-echo.co.uk or telephone David Newble on 023 8042 4503.

We promise to cheer them up!