Last week, Chester was named the second best place to live in the UK in this year’s Hot Housing Index.

Hundreds of Chronicle readers reacted to the news and have been sharing their views on our Facebook page.

Our city outranked hundreds of other places in the country in this year’s Property Week UK Top 50 survey - undertaken by location specialist CACI - securing an overall score of 71.70 per cent.

Crewe triumphed this year’s survey, scoring a whopping 74.30 points after coming place last year.

David Kirwan wrote on the Chronicle’s Facebook page: “Fantastic news for Chester to receive this accolade, I always knew it was the best place to live.

“There is so much to do and see in Chester, something for everyone, it is a prosperous, vibrant and expanding city, lots of investment being poured in, improved and improving facilities all around, exciting times ahead for all.”

Sean Huxley said he has lived in Chester all his life and said ‘nothing else comes close’.

Tracy Lynn from Canada commented: “We visited Chester in 2014 for two weeks from Canada. It was a wonderful community.

“It was hard to adjust to shops closing so early but I think it’s good they do close early.”

But Chris Timms was one of many Chronicle readers who felt Crewe’s victory discredited the survey.

Chris said: “Is this some sort of joke?

“Crewe the best place to live in the UK! Any credibility this survey provider had has just gone.”

Agreeing, Sam Bentley commented: “Sounded good until reading that Crewe came first!

“Horrible place, completely discredits the survey.”

Jo Booth added: “Not sure about this survey if they ranked Crewe as No. 1.”

The story also generated several negative comments from readers, who completely disagreed with the result.

Grace Roberts said: “Chester city centre is Chester’s downfall sadly, too many new modern buildings rising everywhere and cheap shops.

“I live 3 miles from city centre and it couldn’t be more different.”

Debra Johnston said she believed Chester has ‘lost its charm’ as a result of the number of ‘high sky scrapers’ being built in the city.

David Roberts added: “The rich old buildings that made Chester so beautiful has been destroyed from a 1936 Cestrian.”

Lilian Chapman said: “No! I’m in Japan at the moment and I’ve just been talking to a German guy who was more than surprised when I told him we didn’t have a theatre, cinema nor an art gallery! Chester is a shambles and I don’t mean the walkways!

“They can’t even open up the amphitheatre because of some silly building! The Romans were here first! They should have first dibs on historical sites!

“It may be nice for tourists who come for day trips but I moved here from London and I still can’t adjust to the conservative ways of this city even after 16 years!”

However, on a slightly more positive note, Helen Michelle Smith said: “Chester is a beautiful city which will be close to my heart as I grew up in Chester and still have family there.

“But I think it has a little way to go before it will be back to the splendid city it was.

“Good to hear there will be a cinema again but the council needs to get back to making decisions which will make Chester great.

“I don’t think they can say they have made good decisions for Chester in the past, eg closing Gateway Theatre and selling off the seats in the auditorium.”

Chester was officially named the best city to live last year, according to the same survey, bypassing Beverley and Crewe in the top three.