Recent research has shown that Cardiff is one of the cities where people age the quickest.

Cardiff ranked eighth in a study by Harley Street Skin Clinic, which analysed factors such as UV exposure, pollution, water quality, well-being, and smoking rates to determine which cities contribute most to premature ageing.

The study found Cardiff has an average annual UV exposure score of 2.83, a smoking rate of 13 per cent, and a life satisfaction mean score of 7.15 out of 10.

Cardiff also had a 4.97 score on greenhouse gas emissions per capital in 2021, and an average life expectancy of 80.21 years and an anxiety mean score of 3.55 out of 10.

These factors, combined with the city’s water hardness classification of soft, contributed to Cardiff’s position on the list.

Soft water, while generally beneficial for skin, can lead to fewer minerals being absorbed, which may affect skin health for some individuals.

The capital city was one of two to score 5.83 out of 10 on the 'ageing score' alongside Glasgow.

Cardiff did have the highest life expectancy out of the

Kingston upon Hull, in East Yorkshire, topped the list as the quickest ageing city.

It has the highest proportion of smokers at 22 per cent, a hard water classification, and greenhouse gas emissions of 4.21 tCO2e per capita.

Stoke-on-Trent followed in second place, with a very hard water classification and a life satisfaction score of 7.16 out of 10.

This ranked as the fourth lowest score of all the cities analysed.

Manchester came in third, with the lowest life satisfaction score and the second-highest anxiety score. It was joint third with Nottingham. Liverpool, Belfast, Southampton and Birmingham round out the top 10.

The study revealed that Plymouth, Bournemouth, and Northampton are the cities least likely to cause premature ageing.