The happiest place in Wales?

Monmouth is happier than Merthyr, and Cardigan's more contented than Cwmbran. If that sounds like a sweeping generalisation - don't blame us!

Today the Office for National Statistics published its index of happiness. Whilst the Valleys are apparently caught up in a cloud of gloom, if you want to be much happier - head straight up the A470.

Rob Shelley reports.

Northern Ireland is the happiest country in the UK overall, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics.

The study revealed more people in Northern Ireland rated their life satisfaction and happiness as high than in England, Scotland or Wales.

Wales had proportionately more people than any other country in the UK rating their life satisfaction as low.

The 2012/2013 statistics are the first from ONS to explore how personal well-being varies across the countries, regions and more local areas of the UK.

Participants were asked how satisfied they were with their life, to what extent they felt the things they did in their life were worthwhile, and how happy or anxious they felt.

Newport is the area with the lowest average rating in the 'life satisfaction' and 'worthwhile' categories, while Caerphilly and Merthyr Tydfil have the lowest ratings for 'happiness' and 'anxiety'.

The ONS says areas with highest unemployment rates, such as Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil, are also among those with the lowest personal well-being.

People living on Anglesey and in Gwynedd are the happiest in Wales, according to figures from the Office of National Statistics.

The area rated highest for average life satisfaction, feelings of self-worth and happiness.

Carmarthenshire has the highest proportion of people who rate their anxiety level as 1 or less out of 10, while Pembrokeshire sees the lowest average for anxiety.

Read: full list of figures from the ONS