Corby is the unhappiest place in the UK, according to official figures

The data comes from the Personal Wellbeing in the UK report which is released every year by the Office for National Statistics.

In data released today (Wednesday), Corby was the most unhappy place out of all 389 local authorities in the UK.

For 2018/19, Corby had a score of 7.2 out of a maximum of 10.

This was quite a big drop from the 2017/18 score, which was 8.07

This result came from a survey where people were asked: "Overall, how happy did you feel yesterday? Where 0 is 'not at all happy' and 10 is 'completely happy'."

The UK as a whole had an average happiness score of 7.71 for 2018/19, so even though Corby was last out of local authorities, it was not that far behind the national average.

Corby residents were shocked at the last-place ranking for happiness and others called the survey a waste of time.

Chuck Middleton, who appears on Corby Radio and BBC Northampton, said: "I am shocked. Obviously it depends what the question was and what makes people happy."

Chuck also said there had been one big talking point around the town and he suspected it might be the reason for the drop in Corby's happiness score.

"You have got people in Corby in the town thinking Brexit is terrible but people in the villages are thinking 'lets get out of Europe.

"If anything, the whole Brexit issue is the one thing that will make Corby a miserable place, but otherwise I think it's a happy place."

Jackie Hutchison, whose home was recently renovated by volunteers from Corby and the BBC DIY SOS team, said: "That's very sad, that's extremely sad due to the fact the last couple of weeks the town has been buzzing, everyone has come together and the atmosphere has been amazing.

"I am sad to hear that."

Jackie said she thought the result might be because of Brexit but said: "Sometimes life experience gets in the way, it's not Corby's fault.

"If I am having a bad time, then I am having a bad time. The last 12 months of our life have been horrific, but now we had this amazing help, we are loving life.

"Maybe it's pressure and work and pressure that life brings."

Jackie said she would rate her happiness in Corby at the moment as a 10.

Terri Meecham, who runs Corby Carnival, said: "It amazes me why people do these things.

"Corby is a very happy place, people will always be unhappy or not like what's going on with their life at the moment."

She added: "I am sure there are more worthwhile things to spend money on than silly surveys."

On the possibility of Brexit being the reason for Corby's score dropping this year, Terri said: "I think people are just fed up with it rather than unhappy with it."

Elsewhere in the county, Daventry was found to be the happiest place in Northamptonshire with a score of 8.0.

Daventry was followed by Kettering, East Northamptonshire, Wellingborough, South Northamptonshire and then Corby in the happiness scores.