MIDDLEWICH has been revealed as one of the safest areas in the country.

A survey into violent crime has shown that the combined police division of Congleton and Vale Royal is the 10th safest in the UK, with only places such as rural Scotland and East Dorset faring better.

The figures, a result of research conducted by various groups, including the Home Office and individual police divisions, were published in Good Housekeeping magazine.

They have been welcomed by Superintendant Chris Richards, divisional commander for Vale Royal and Congleton.

He said: "The big picture is that Cheshire is one of the safest counties in the country, Congleton and Vale Royal is the safest division in Cheshire and Middlewich, other than remote rural areas, is one of the safest towns."

Supt Richards suggested that the statistics should be highlighted and that not enough is done to promote the town's positive crime figures with people tending to only look at the negative aspects.

He added: "People's fear of crime is well known but people have a far greater fear of crime than the reality. Of course it is very difficult to say to a victim that this is a safe area and people may become a victim of crime but there is a lot less chance of that here than in most places."