POLITICIANS, businessmen, residents and sporting greats have hit back at a survey calling the Gwent valleys one of the most miserable areas to live in the UK.

The Legatum Institute, an international think tank based in London, has published its first ever Geography of Prosperity Index today, comparing the prosperity of 170 areas across Britain.The findings are based on measuring the average income per person along with how happy they feel.

With the average annual income at £12,300 in the Gwent Valleys, and the area being ranked 158th out of 170 places in the UK for happiness, the index has not painted a particularly positive picture of Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly county borough.

But a number of residents have been keen to stress the positives of living in the historic region.

Torfaen MP Nick Thomas-Symonds said: “Of course we have our fair share of challenges in the Gwent valleys, like trying to bring more high-quality jobs to the area, but I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

“Our people have real community spirit and look out for each other, something with its roots in our proud industrial and social history.”

Bob Wellington, leader of Torfaen council, said: “The Blaenavon World Heritage Site is of global importance and attracts thousands of visitors from across the world every year.

“Since Blaenavon became a World Heritage Site 15 years ago, the town has attracted almost £50 million pounds of investment which has been used to tackle dereliction, build a new school and refurbish nearly 500 houses.”

Chris Went, who has been manager at the Pontlottyn pub in Abertillery for six months, said there is renewed hope in the region because of numerous regeneration projects.

He said: “It’s the community feel. Everyone knows each other and everyone is supportive of each other.

“Over the last couple of years, there’s been some tragic incidents where people have lost their lives and the entire community has come together and started fundraising.”

Blaenau Gwent AM Alun Davies said: “I couldn’t be less interested in the views of these people when they look up from their dinner parties.

“I think when it has comes to analysing what it means to be a community, we can teach these people more than they can teach us.”

Britain’s greatest ever boxing trainer, Enzo Calzaghe, who has been based in the Caerphilly borough for some 38 years, said he couldn't disagree more

“I created myself in this place," he said.

"People are so nice to us, the sun shines everywhere. I can’t say one bad thing about it.

“Everyone I know who lives in Sardinia asks why the hell do I live here? I say it’s my home, not a holiday house. It’s beautiful.

“When we go on holiday, two weeks later Joe [Calzaghe] says he wants to go home.”