Southend has clinched the title of the most solar power-ready city in the UK, scoring 9.58/10.

This Essex coast gem was declared top by energy experts at Utility Bidder, who devised the Solar Sunlight Index to measure factors such as average temperatures, sunlight hours, and the capacity for photovoltaic power output.

Enjoying an average annual temperature of 11.2C, Southend basks in approximately 2,330 sunlight hours each year - perfect conditions for solar power.

James Longley, managing director at Utility Bidder, said: "Homeowners across the UK are being urged to take steps towards creating a more environmentally-friendly home, with the installation of solar panels being one of them."

He also noted that as of February this year, solar installations have been incorporated into more than one million UK homes.

Southend's high score sits above that of Plymouth, which came second in the index with 8.91/10.

The solar power score considers a city's photovoltaic power output, a measure of the power generated per solar panel.

Southend was also crowned the UK area with the highest capacity on this measure.

Global comparisons revealed Los Angeles as the solar power capital of the world, scoring 9.08/10, with Abu Dhabi boasting the highest photovoltaic power output worldwide.