Essex has been given a big thumbs-up by the people who really know it best - the people who live here.

In a new survey on behalf of the East of England Development Agency an astonishing 92 per cent of people questioned in Essex said they were satisfied with the county as a place to live.

This was surpassed by only one other county in the entire region - Suffolk.

Research revealed that Essex was the best-known county in the region but not the best liked.

Other findings show that three quarters of residents are proud to live in the region, and they like the prosperity and easy access to London and Europe.

Priorities for improving quality of life include tackling traffic congestion, increasing leisure and facilities for the young, improving shopping areas and boosting transport.

EEDA board member, Alan Cherry, said: "By building on the positive images that already exist we can find common values with which to promote our region as an extremely attractive and dynamic place to live and work."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.