Lewes is a hotbed of Peers, with representatives in the House of Lords outnumbering the constituency's MP by 11 to one.

The area is the most popular outside London for members of the Upper Chamber to live, according to new research.

Brighton Pavilion, with six peers to one MP, is also close to the top of the charts.

The research, carried out for parliamentary magazine The House, shows a huge imbalance in where Peers live.

The size of the Commons and Lords is broadly the same, with 679 Peers holding to account 659 MPs.

Yet the South-East has 131 Peers to 79 MPs, with Lewes the most striking example of the bias.

Local Peers include Tory ex-ministers Lord Baker of Dorking, Baroness Cumberlege and Lord Renton of Mount Harry.

Also living in the constituency are Conservative Peer Lord Skidelsky, independents Lord Briggs and Lord Lloyd of Berwick, Liberal Democrat Lord Hutchinson of Lullington, a Tory QC and two Labour ex-ministers.

The Northern region has just nine Peers to 30 MPs, and the North West 27 Peers to 76 MPs.

The Cities of London and Westminster are the most popular, but this is because they have homes in "division bell" distance for when Peers have to vote.

Norman Baker, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Lewes, said the research dded weight to the case for reforming the Lords.

He said: "Lewes is a very nice part of the world for people to come to retire. But of course it also shows the Lords has to be reformed.

"I am very happy to play host to all these Peers in my constituency, but I am equally pleased they will not be allowed to vote in the election."

The Appointments Commission, which is in charge of reforming the Lords, said it was aware of the imbalance.

A spokesman said: "We hope to encourage further outstanding people from other parts of the country to come forward and we will be continuing a programme of visits across the UK to get this message across."

Report by James Slack, May 17, 2001