ON AVERAGE, Swindonians move six miles when they up sticks for a new home, research found.

Analysis of data from more than 160,000 movers across the country over the past 12 months revealed one in five travelled under 1.5 miles when they switched addresses.

Stockport residents moved the shortest distance, with data showing half of those in the Cheshire town travelled 4.3 miles or less to their new home.

The longest journey was by a Hampshire resident who packed up their belongings for a bumper 820 mile journey to a new life in the Shetland Islands, Scotland.

Swindon movers were middle of the table, on average moving six miles away.

The research was carried out by AnyVan.com ahead of the busiest time of the year for house moves.

It is expected around half of the firm's enquiries will take place between May and August, with spring and summer the most popular time for home sellers.

The improved weather makes properties and gardens more enticing to buyers and it give children more time to settle into a new area ahead of a school change.

Angus Elphinstone, CEO of AnyVan.com, said: "Packing up everything and moving to another part of the country can be a daunting experience and our figures revealed that over the past 12 months almost 3,000 customers travelled more than 100 miles when they moved home.

"But while thousands decided to start a new life miles away, our research showed for most there really is no place like home.”