THE TELEGRAPH has stuck its foot in it by releasing its annual ranking of England's counties and not crowning Hampshire as number one.

Ranked best to worst the list considered 48 counties and measured them according to natural wonders, history and culture, luxuries, peace and quiet.

Devon made it to the top, with Bedfordshire resigned to last place, just above Bristol and the City of London, which occupy places 47 and 46.

Champions of Hampshire will be dismayed to discover it did not make the podium, falling one position from last year's seventh to eight (although we can take some solace in being above Surrey and Wiltshire).

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Mayor of Winchester, Cllr Russell Gordon-Smith, 74, from Alresford (Image: Charles Elliman) He was not in his mayoral attire, but Mayor Cllr Russell Gordon-Smith, 74, went into bat for Winchester's county and did not agree with The Telegraph's ranking.

He said: "Cumbria has a fine landscape, you've got the Lake District and [William] Wordsworth, but we have John Keats.

"[Hampshire should be] right at the top! There's so much happening around here. And you've got a varied landscape: chalk downs, lowland heath and green sandstone places."

The Alresford resident also noted the county was very welcoming, he added: "I don't know what it is about Hampshire, but when they move in, people are accepted quite quickly."

Natalie Watson, 39 from Surbiton (Image: Charles Elliman) Natalie Watson, 39 is used to selling people a location, working Winchester's Travelbag and sending holiday-goers across the world.

Although not quite so partisan as Mayor Russell, Natalie thought the list was not accurate, he said: "I would've thought arguably a bit higher [but] I've never been to a lot of those places."

"For me, Hampshire is so green and beautiful. I think it's a nice place to live; places like Winchester have a nice community atmosphere."

Sophie Armstrong, 30, from Winchester (Image: Charles Elliman) Sophie Armstrong, 30, believes the eighth spot was a fair ranking. She said: "I think there are nice towns and cities; you've got coastal areas as well. I love green spaces as well; they're a real bonus."

The Winchester native works in finance in London and appreciates the quick access to the city. The Chronicle asked Sophie if these links gave Hampshire a leg-up against other counties.

She said: "You're probably right. Considering the proximity to London and the speed. That's a benefit for someone like me, but might not be to someone in Cornwall of Norfolk."

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Owen Eley, 22, from Winchester (Image: Charles Elliman) Selling coffee on sun-dappled Market Street, between the High Street and the Winchester Cathedral Owen Eley was found.

The 22-year-old agreed with The Telegraph's placement of Hampshire, he said: "I think eight is fairly close to where it should be."

The barista, however, fundamentally disagreed with the list as a whole and believed more urban, major cities gave places such as Merseyside and Bristol an edge.

He added: "You've got the beach, some decent countryside, smaller cities, but I think [Hampshire] it's missing a landmark city.

"I think if they're [The Telegraph] justifying Kent and Devon as higher than us, I'd listen to it but I don't particularly see what they've got over us."