ABERGAVENNY has been named as one of the best places to live in Wales in an annual guide published by the Sunday Times

The newspaper said it had drawn on a range of factors, including community spirit, exam results, broadband speed and the availability of local shops when deciding on the winning towns.

Also making the list was Monmouth and Hay-on-Wye with the Vale of Glamorgan market town of Cowbridge said to be named as the top place to live in Wales.

The full list is set to be published on Sunday.

The ringing endorsement of the town comes just weeks after an anonymous online attack described Abergavenny as being tired, run down and ‘culturally lacking in every aspect’, claiming that despite having some affluent residents, most people who lived in the town came from low socio economic backgrounds and lived on ‘tough social housing estates and adding that Abergavenny had more than average levels of anti-social behaviour, rape and drug abuse.

Writing on the website ilivehere.co.uk the unnamed resident of the town claimed it has ‘a tired, run down feel with lots of charity and cheap goods shops’ adding that ‘the council have poorly managed the town, resisting rejuvenation and charging such high rates that many shops are forced to close down’.

“In short, it’s an uninspiring stop off point if you’re planning a trip to the Beacons, but nothing to want to hold you there,” the reviewer concluded.

Fortunately the Sunday Times does not agree…