The inhabitants of Brighton and Hove spend more time getting their highlights done than building up their muscles, according to a new survey.

A Lifestyle Index of the best places to live in Britain shows there are three times more hairdressers than sports and leisure facilities in the city.

The Brightonian obssession with hair care may have cost them a place in the top five of the index.

It ranks cities according to the number of restaurants, pubs, bars, takeaways, beauty salons, hairdressers and sports and leisure centres per 1000 population.

Despite Brighton and Hove's well-stocked bars and reputation for sizzling nightlife, it has not made it into the top five.

Surprisingly it languishes in sixth place behind Swansea (5), Exeter (3) and Belfast (1).