Places Features

Anyone who knows Stoke on Trent knows that there's something special about the place - especially when it comes to having a sense of community.

Well, now it's official! Research done by the University of Sheffield has found out that if you live in Stoke on Trent, you're more likely to feel a 'sense of belonging' than anywhere else in the UK.

The Changing UK report, commissioned by the BBC, looked at how communities have changed over 40 years.

Least fragmented

It found that BBC Radio Stoke area - north Staffordshire and south Cheshire - was the least fragmented area in the country.

Staffordshire's wonderful countryside

So, what makes this place so special? Why do people stay here? Are Stoke folk the friendliest? Take a look at the following video report from BBC Midlands Today:

And the warmth of Stoke is contagious! BBC Staffordshire reporter Joel Moors spoke to someone from America who thinks that our city is unique. Here's what Roy Hudson, from Chicago, feels about Stoke...

Also, BBC Radio Stoke's Paula White spoke to Dr Dan Vickers, one of the authors of the report, and asked him what the report found out about the UK overall...