The average household income in East Sussex falls below the national average, a new report shows.

Despite the South-East's affluent reputation, homeowners in East Sussex bring home an average of £23,100, £100 short of the national average.

It is number 21 in the affluence league, behind counties including Kent, Essex and Cheshire.

West Sussex fares better, on £25,700, making it the tenth most affluent region in the UK, above Hampshire and Wiltshire.

South Kensington tops the wealth table, with residents earning an average of £47,700 a year, while 17 of the 20 richest areas in Britain are in London.

The poorest areas are in the South-West, East Anglia, Wales and the North.

The wealth map is the result of a Wealth of the Nation report by market researchers CACI, who examined detailed data from £4m homes.

It found that the average household income is up 8.6 per cent on 1998 and a fifth higher than in 1996, the year before Tony Blair came to power.

The report says: "Household incomes have risen steadily over the past four years, ahead of the rate of inflation.

"But income growth has not been uniform across the country. The highest rates are benefiting those in the already affluent South East."