A study has placed Herefordshire and Worcestershire in the top 20 most anxious areas in the UK.

The study, carried out by medical cannabis clinic Releaf, looked at NHS anxiety medication prescriptions, as well as self-reported anxiety levels to determine the most anxious places in the country.

The two counties ranked 16th in the list.

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Devon topped the list, with high rates of antidepressant and benzodiazepine prescriptions, and self-reported anxiety.

This reflects the region's ongoing mental health challenges.

Second place was taken by Kent, and Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight came in third, with high prescription figures and anxiety scores.

Tim Kirby, CEO at Releaf, said: "These findings highlight the urgent need for better mental health support through increased access to alternative medications, especially in areas like Kent and Devon where mental health condition levels are particularly high.

"Medical cannabis can be a highly effective alternative treatment for managing anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD, along with many other conditions where traditional medications often fall short."

Releaf also shared the story of one of its patients, Brandon Newman, a 27-year-old from Hampshire.

Newman has been battling anxiety, autism, Asperger's syndrome, and ADHD from a young age.

Despite his success as a YouTube boxing influencer, he has said that the constant online abuse worsened his anxiety and depression, pushing him to a breaking point, which saw him turn to medical cannabis through the clinic.

He said: "I feel like already, it's starting to make more of a positive change to my head, because I don't feel introverted, I don't feel like I need to close myself off all the time.

"I really feel like I'm starting to feel like me again."