RESIDENTS in Chalfont St Peter have reacted with surprise and disbelief after a national report labelled their village as the second richest area in Britain.

The report also crowned Buckinghamshire as UK's third wealthiest county with an average household income of more than £31,000. The report claims people living in Chalfont St Peter earn an average £47,600 a year - £100 less than their city-dwelling counterparts in swanky South Kensington.

But Bucks county councillor Bruce Allen (Con, Chalfont St Peter), said he did not understand how neighbouring Gerrards Cross came to be eighth on the rich list.

Cllr Allen, who has lived on Upway Corner, Chalfont St Peter, for more than 30 years, added: "I'm not really sure how they've come up with us as second place - I don't believe that."