Stafford

With a population of around 63,600, Stafford lies adjacent to the M6 motorway and is the county town of Staffordshire.

Originally a settlement on an island in the marshland of the River Sow, the town was fortified by Ethelfreda, daughter of Alfred the Great, in 913, when it became the new capital of Mercia.

Since the 18th century, the town's economy has thrived from the manufacture of shoes when, under the governance of William Horton, founder of the Stafford Shoe Industry, the town is reported to have produced and exported five million pairs of shoes to South Africa alone, although this industry has since declined.

The town's oldest building is St Chad's church, which dates back to the 12th century, inside which can be seen a computer generated display of the rich and colourful history within the walls of the church.

Stafford has an Edwardian riverside park with a bowling green and open-air paddling pool called Victoria Park, which was opened in 1908, as well as the Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, which is the town's main entertainment venue.

It's well served by a leisure centre and there are excellent local amenities in its main shopping street, Greengate Street, which also houses the museum of the Elizabethan Ancient High House, reported to be the largest timber-framed town house in England.

Stafford is also home to a Gurkha signals regiment and an RAF regiment contingent at M.O.D Stafford.