IT may not officially be a city, but Warrington has again beaten its bigger rivals to appear in a top report.

The Centre for Cities places the town in its top 10 for cities for small and medium sized business success.

It comes six months after the same organisation placed Warrington in the top 10 overall.

Warrington is classified as a ‘city’ in the report by population (207,000).

And it was the top place in the north west in the report.

The top five is Cambridge, Edinburgh, Brighton, Swindon and Derby.

Clr Terry O’Neill, leader of Warrington Borough Council, said: “This is yet another affirmation of Warrington’s status as one of the premier UK locations for business.

“We have in place a robust framework to maintain and grow that position, Warrington Means Business.

“And we do mean business, over the last 12 months we’ve announced projects totalling £476 million of which £227 million is either built or is under way.

“One project that has just started on site the construction of an £8.5 million Business Incubator that we are building in the centre of town. Warrington is a business start up hot spot and we are keen to assist those start ups to flourish.”

Steve Park, managing director, Warrington & Co., Warrington’s partnership for driving economic growth said: “SME’s are the lifeblood of a local economy and so for Warrington to be ranked number one in the UK is a clear sign of business confidence in the town and its investment potential.

“Warrington & Co. is working in partnership in driving a number of key regeneration projects that are well underway.

“Omega is a prime example and we now have the £190 million Stadium Quarter project on site and soon to be followed by the £52 million Bridge Street regeneration scheme.

“And more announcements are forthcoming. Watch this space.”