EAST Lancashire produces some of the best friends in the country, according to a survey.

Some 88% of Burnley and 59% of Blackburn residents said they had never fallen out with their close friends, coming seventh and eighth in a poll of towns with the best mates in the UK.

Overall, cities in the North fared better, with Leeds taking the top position, Manchester second and Liverpool third.

More than 1,500 people answered questions about how much support their friends offer them in different circumstances, such as ‘If you were having financial difficulty, would your friends lend you money?’ and ‘If you were stranded without cash, would your friends pick you up?’.

More than three fifths, 63%, of people from Leeds said they thought their friends would help them out if they needed a loan, compared to people in London, where just 19% thought their friends would.

The research, commissioned by takeaway website Just-Eat.co.uk, put eight northern cities and towns in the top 10, while Southampton was the sole southern representative.

When asked the question, ‘Would you prefer to spend time with your friends over your partner?’ 42% of northern respondents claimed that they would, compared to just 13% of southerners.

David Buttress, managing director of Just-Eat.co.uk, said: “The hurried way of life in the South, particularly as you get closer to London, doesn’t lend itself well to friendliness, and these results confirm this.

”This survey demonstrates how strong the bonds are between friends across the country, something that is especially important to us, given the way food can bring people together.”