"We are thrilled about it!" - Stourbridge ranked one of the happiest places to live in West Midlands

According to a recent study by real estate giant Rightmove, Stourbridge is the eighth happiest place to live in the whole of the West Midlands, for the second year in a row. 

I went down to The Crown Centre - right at the heart of it all - and was met with smiles from passing strangers and college kids having a laugh with each other.

The first person I spoke to was one of the college students. Isla Nalbant studies drama, maths, and physics at Stourbridge, but was surprised to hear that it was ranked one of the happiest places in the county - although she does like the charity shops. 

The 17-year-old said: "I'm very surprised. On college days, I spend most of my free time out and about in town, and it's not fabulous. There's not much colour in the town, when you walk around you're faced with boring and monotone, it feels like a slug of a day. No offence Stourbridge. The only thing that keeps you up is probably all the charity shops around here!"

I asked Isla if the Stourbridge people generally seem happy to her. 

"No, and they're slow walkers too. I feel like everyone has somewhere else to be and not in Stourbridge - they're walking through here to go somewhere else."

Stourbridge superfan Sheila Hill said the opposite - she has lived in the town for fifty years, and thinks it's wonderful. 

The 83-year-old said: "We're fantastic in Stourbridge - some of the people around me are so miserable, but I'm terrific!"

Pals Roger and Christine were also very happy to hear the news. They come for a walk into town every single day. 

Christine, who moved from Canada four years ago, said she is grateful that it doesn't snow as much over here

"We are thrilled to bits! Everybody is always pleasant, there are lots of nice coffee shops. We love every moment - and there is no snow!" 

Roger agreed, saying, "It's magic, the local places we come to shop, and there are plenty of coffee shops, yes. And luckily for Christine, the snow comes and goes!"

Local business owner Sue also loves her town. The former college lecturer now runs Love Alice, a women's boutique named after her mum. 

We popped in to ask for her thoughts on the ranking. 

"I absolutely agree, it seems happy, I'm happy and my customers are happy," she said. "It's hard to say what exactly it is that makes people happy here, but there are lots of really nice quirky shops like the vintage one across the road called Secret Love, and the gemstones shop. There are also lots of coffee shops too and nice bars. 

"I just love having my shop in Stourbridge, I've got so many friends that I made through this."

Peter and his wife Laura have lived in the town for more than 30 years and have no plans to move out any time soon. 

I asked them why they thought it was ranked the happiest place to live in the county. 

"It's probably because we're all pensioners and we've got a bob in our pocket!" Peter joked. 

"But really it's a nice area, and the people are nice."

Laura added: "I think it's because it's the Black Country. We came from Birmingham and the people are much more friendly here."