Not again... People in Wolverhampton are the UK's most miserable, says study

The city was also ranked the least prosperous place to live in the same report.

The latest blow comes just weeks after Wolverhampton was named the least happy place to live in the West Midlands by Rightmove, one of the most uncultured in the country by the Royal Society of Arts and its people among the most dissatisfied by the ONS.

And, of course, there was the infamous Lonely Planet poll of 2009 that classed the city as the fifth worst in the entire world.

The new study, by think tank The Legatum Institute, was today dismissed by council leader Roger Lawrence, who said he was weary of the constant negative reports and surveys.

Councillor Lawrence said: "I am getting really annoyed with these reports, it's just people moaning.

"I think these people who make these reports are the miserable ones."

Wolverhampton MP Pat McFadden added: "We have had a few of these reports now and the truth is the city does have big challenges but portraying it in this way is far too negative.

"We have done well over the years in making Wolverhampton a tolerant multi faith city where people for the most part get along well.

"We do need to face up to the challenges like school standards and better public health and we need the Government to stop imposing big cuts on the city year after year.

"But overall I simply don't accept this is one of the worst places in Britain to live."

For its inaugural Geography of Prosperity index, The Legatum Institute compared the prosperity of 170 areas across Britain.

It combined the Eurostat's data on gross domestic product for UK local areas and the ONS's well-being statistics.

Wolverhampton came bottom out of 170 cities in the UK for life satisfaction, with a rating of 7.07, making its people officially the most miserable.

Wulfrunians also came 86th out of 170 for GDP per capita, with the average person earning £18,394 per year.

Sian Hansen, executive director of the institute, said: "The 'Geography of Prosperity' index reveals that prosperity is about more than just wealth, it is about feeling that one's life is worthwhile.

"The data shows that Wolverhampton is the least prosperous part of the UK because its citizens report the lowest levels of satisfaction with their lives in the whole country.

"Residents of Wolverhampton are almost twice as likely to be unemployed, and are more likely to be claiming a working-age benefit.

"A lack of opportunity not only makes the area poorer but perhaps more importantly it makes people feel more unhappy."

Neighbouring Sandwell was ranked as the second least prosperous, while its people were ranked as the joint second most miserable alongside Liverpool.

Dudley and Walsall were also ranked the 39th and 29th least prosperous areas in the UK.

Staffordshire was ranked in the middle for prosperity, coming in 85th out of 170.