Marlborough and Bradford on Avon have been named in the Sunday Times' list of the best towns and suburbs to live in.

The accolade, in part of The Sunday Times' Best Places to Live guide, which is published on Sunday in partnership with Zoopla.

The annual supplements combine data and statistics such as crime rates, house prices and school performance.

It highlighted Bradford on Avon, Marlborough, Wadebridge in Cornwall, Castle Cary in Somerset and Thornbury in South Gloucestershire as the best places to live.

President of the Bradford on Avon Chamber of Commerce, Caroline Philpott said: “I think it is fantastic news and it is an accolade the town needs.

“Bradford on Avon is a community based town and the people are very friendly. I feel that when people move to the town, they feel very involved with everything that is going on because there are many opportunities to meet other people.

“Hopefully this news will encourage more people to Bradford and I am very much proud that it has been named as one of two Wiltshire towns in the list.”

Marlborough mayor Marian Hannaford Dobson said: “It couldn’t have happened to a nice place, I’m not surprised at all.

“The community spirit here is wonderful. A few years ago we were named the most generous town in the country and I believe that comes across in everything you take part in in Marlborough.

“We have two absolutely brilliant schools, both the public and the state school feature on most top lists and, of course, the High Street is lovely, it’s got a real chic cafe feel.”

The Sunday Times will reveal what it believes is the overall best place to live in Britain in the paper on Sunday.

The locations were selected for offering the best quality of life to the widest number of people, and combining desirable features such as a positive community spirit, good local shops and services and attractive outdoor spaces.

Home editor Helen Davies said: "The UK is home to some fantastic cities and idyllic countryside, and most of us want easy access to both urban excitement, and rural tranquillity.

"Part three of The Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2015 demonstrates that there are plenty of locations where people can enjoy the best of both worlds."

Readers will be able to discover their own best place to live with a digital quiz at www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/bestplaces2015