Aber is UK's top university town

The university has scored well in a string of recent polls

Aberystwyth is the UK's favourite university town, according to a new study.

The seaside town in Ceredigion beat Brighton, Manchester, Exeter and Glasgow in a survey by a student accommodation website.

The study was based on nearly 34,000 reviews by students from 81 university towns, who were asked to rate their area out of 10.

Aberystwyth University described the findings as "excellent news".

Students were quizzed about a range of facilities including bars, restaurants, clubs, supermarkets, transport links, libraries and parks in their town or city.

Aberystwyth came out top with a score of 64%. Equal second with 62% were Brighton, Manchester, Exeter, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee.

More than 7,000 students live in Aberystwyth

Three other Welsh university towns - Cardiff, Swansea and Bangor - joined Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastle, Sheffield, Plymouth, Oxford and Southampton in third place with 60%.

Professor Aled Jones, pro-vice chancellor at Aberystwyth University, said: "This is excellent news and confirmation that the University of Wales, Aberystwyth is one of the best places in the UK to study."

The survey was carried out by Accommodation for Students, an internet search engine.

In the latest national student survey Aberystwyth University was fifth in the UK, and top in Wales, with a satisfaction rating of 90% - up from 87% in 2005.

It also finished seventh in the UK and top in Wales in the Times Higher Education Supplement satisfaction league table.