Praise for town ranked in best places to visit

Residents said the area used to be called Little Switzerland in the winter

Residents and visitors have been praising Church Stretton's scenery, attractions and independent shops after it made a list of the top 15 towns and village in the UK.

Consumer organisation Which? also listed two other Shropshire towns – Ludlow and Ironbridge – in the top 15 places to visit.

In the survey, towns and villages were rated for their peace and quiet, scenery, food, drink and attractions.

"We have the Shropshire Hills, and we have Carding Mill Valley and Shropshire is very popular, and it used to be called Little Switzerland, in the days when it snowed and there was frost," Church Stretton resident Gwen said.

'Cute little shops'

She said the town had "everything but a shoe shop".

Staff working in the estate agents said the town was "extremely popular", mainly for the walks and the hills - which were a "definite selling point".

The historic market town of Ludlow was also among the best towns listed

Jamie, a 24-year-old teacher from Swansea, had stopped on her way to Liverpool and said the town had always been a "family favourite" and a place her grandfather likes to visit.

"I just kind of adopted it myself," she said. "It's just got a nice small feel to it, lots of local businesses, cute little shops, all the kind of stuff I like – I like supporting local businesses."

'Keep ourselves quiet'

Frances, who works in The Outdoor Depot, said the area attracted fell runners and holidaymakers for the walking.

She moved to Church Stretton from Manchester after they'd "had enough of the city" and wanted the walking and the scenery.

The town hadn't previously appeared on lists, she said, adding: "We do like to keep ourselves a bit quiet.

"A lot of people don't exactly know where Shropshire is and sometimes we think maybe it's better to keep it that way."