IT'S official - window cleaning is the riskiest profession in the UK.

Daredevil window wipers have been ranked ahead of lifeguards, ambulance drivers and even circus performers in a new league table of dangerous jobs.

The League of Professions was created by insurance company Churchill to measure the level of risk that every job role provided its worker, in order to rate life insurance cover.

Along with the fearless window cleaners, pilots, soldiers and police officers occupied the top division of dicey walks of life. The most harmless job rated was a vicar.

Churchill Life spokesman Greg Dawson said: "Window cleaners were top of the pile as they are working at height, on ladders, with one or more implements, and need incredible balance and concentration."

The second division of Churchill's League of Professions included satellite dish and aerial installers, croupiers, life-guards and circus performers.

Mr Dawson explained: "These vocations are still high-risk as they represent a clear and present danger to the job holder.

"Cable guys are always high up on roofs, croupiers have to deal with the highs and lows of gamblers, and the hazards faced by lifeguards and circus performers are easy to recognise."

In the lowest risk tier of all, vicars, pharmacists and insurance brokers were rated as the most sedate and secure professions.

"These roles tend to be more predictable, are in the same safe place of work and require little physical exertion," added Mr Dawson.

"While these professions are challenging in their own way, they are not really front-line workers, risking life and limb.

"Ironically, these professions are more than likely going to be around to offer comfort and support to the daring personnel ranked in division one."

Churchill's Life Cover ranks and rates professions as it is one element of assessing a person's health and lifestyle.

In financial terms, this means that vicars could pay about 50 per cent less for their cover than croupiers, publicans and lifeguards.