Council leaders have rubbished a survey which has slated their areas as two of the worst in the country for raising a family.

Rother and Hastings came a dismal 402nd and 405th respectively out of a total of 408 local authority areas in the UK in a parents' survey by Reader's Digest Magazine.

Councillor Graham Gubby, leader of Rother District Council, blasted the results and branded the survey 'absolute rubbish'.

He said: "Out of a list of 408 publications I would place The Reader's Digest at 402nd. I treat this survey with the contempt it deserves. People who live in Rother know the area and what it's like.

"The survey does not reflect the views of the local parents I know. Rother has some of the best schools in the South East, lowest unemployment figures and we can't build enough houses for the people who want to come and live here.

"It doesn't do the people or the companies based in Rother the credit they deserve in its regeneration.

"It is absolute rubbish and doesn't deserve any more time commenting on it."

Hastings Borough Council leader Peter Pragnell said the Hastings in the list is not the town he recognises.

He said: "With education attainment we are starting from a low base but we have been improving consistently. Hastings is a lovely place.

"I'm looking out of my window now and the sun is shining and it is beautiful. A young mother has just walked past and she didn't look like she wanted to leave.

"I don't recognise the Hastings they talk about, the town is on the up. This is a place where people are moving to rather than leaving.

"We do have problems with infrastructure. The A21 is an appalling road and the trains are not the best but schools are improving, quality of life is improving, as well as shopping, jobs and the number of opportunities people have.

"They polled just under 1,200 parents but how many parents are there in the UK? They may have picked the one parent in Hastings who is not a happy person.

"I would encourage people to come and bring their children up here."

Out of the list Horsham fared best, ranked 25th, with Mid Sussex following it at 26th. Brighton and Hove (387th) and Eastbourne (392nd) joined Hastings and Rother near the bottom.

Adur (173rd) and Arun (195th) gained mid table respectability while Crawley came in at 70th.

The Reader's Digest magazine survey found good state schools and a low crime rate as the most important requirements for a family-friendly area, closely followed by good local hospitals and affordable family housing.

The parents' poll put Scotland as the best place to bring up a family with East Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire taking the two top spots.

Reading, in Berkshire, came last in 408th place.

Is your area a good place to raise a family? Did you grow up in Hastings or Rother? Leave your comments below.