A Dorset village is the sunniest in the UK according to a new study.

Abbotsbury has been named as the best spot in the country for a sunny staycation by ARRAN Sense of Scotland.

The brand compared 100 different towns and villages using data from nine different criteria including accommodation costs, activities, weather, light and noise pollution, to get the overall results.

Abbotsbury took the top spot for weather, with an average of 1,904 hours of sunshine and just 117 rainy days each year.

Other locations in Dorset also finished on the list, including Wareham, Corfe Castle, Lyme Regis and Sherborne.

Alresford, in Hampshire, took the overall top spot as the best place in the UK for a relaxing staycation, earning a score of 75.1 out of 100.

Wareham and Abbotsbury finished in the top five on the list with scores of 70.8 and 69.4 respectively. 

Data was gathered from sources such as Google Travel, Met Office, The National Trust and regional government websites.

To read the study in full, visit arran.com/blogs/news/where-to-go-for-the-uk-s-most-relaxing-staycations