TWO Uttlesford towns have been named in The Sunday Times’ top 10 most desirable places to live in the east of England.

Saffron Walden and Felsted were chosen to go on the newspaper’s exclusive list, edited by Eleanor Mills.

The comprehensive and up-to-date list takes a wide range of elements into account including transport links, quality of schools, natural beauty, low crime rate, property prices, cultural life and unemployment figures.

Each area is also assessed on its own individual assets, whether it has a local festival, fascinating architecture or proximity to an airport.

The other areas on the top 10 list are Cambridgeshire’s Hemingford Abbots and Newnham. Woodbridge and Nayland in Suffolk, Woburn and Pavenham in Bedfordshire, The Golden Triangle in Norwich and Holt, in Norfolk.

The Sunday Times Best Places to Live will run across two weekends on March 17 and 24 in The Sunday Times.

As well as an overall national winner, which will be announced in the first issue, the guide will announce the top 10 places in nine regions around the country.