What is it like growing up in the 'best place to live' in the UK?

Praised by judges for its "knockout historic looks" and "exploding foodie scene", Saffron Walden in Essex has been named the best place to live in the UK by The Sunday Times.

With an average house price of just over £440,000 - well above the national average of £292,000 - it is also one of the least affordable for those looking to get on the housing ladder.

What is it like for young people living in the "genteel" market town?

Diego Amaro, 21, loves his job working front of house at an independent cafe called Chater's.

On his views of the town, which has a population of about 16,000, he said: "Everyone's great. [It's] very simple, easy to get around, everything about it is gorgeous. I love it all.

"It's just quaint, nice and quiet, nothing like a big city, it's not too loud."

However, he recognised that he might need to move away from the town he has lived in since birth.

"I'm currently living with my mum," he said.

Nanny Rebecca Dale, 25, noticed lots of people moving in from London, but said even renting in the surrounding villages was expensive for her and her partner.

"A four-bed house in our village (two miles from Saffron Walden), I think it's up for £750,000 with no parking space and a tiny, tiny garden," she said.

"People are definitely growing up here and then moving away because it's just so expensive."

Married couple Amber and Dillon Howling, aged 31 and 30, grew up in Saffron Walden as children before going to university in Brighton.

They returned in June last year - after having children themselves - in order to take over ownership of The Toy Box, a shop which has been in the town for 40 years.

The couple knew their decision would prove to be an expensive one.

"It was a struggle, it's still a struggle now, a real struggle, it's almost impossible," Mrs Howling said.

"But it's worth it... we're so happy and we absolutely love living here."

Mr Howling said there was plenty for young people in the town.

"Personally, I can't wait to see my son test out the skate park," he said.

Trustee of the King Edward VI Almshouses in Saffron Walden, Peter Gibson, 64, wants to raise awareness among young people about the housing service they offer.

Almshouses are traditionally a volunteer-run housing option for those in need, but Mr Gibson said the service can be wrongly stereotyped as exclusively for the elderly.

He said you have to be aged over 18 with a connection to Saffron Walden in order to apply.

Mr Gibson raised one example of a man who applied due to having family in Saffron Walden.

"It helped him get his life back on track," he said.

He said people who were unable to get a home through other means could be eligible to apply to live in an almshouse.

He explained it was targeted at "people who cannot afford to rent privately" or those who "wouldn't be at the top of the priority list" if they applied for council housing.

According to its website, maintenance contributions are £699.45 per month for a one-bedroom property and £804.39 per month for a two-bedroom home.

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