Isles of Scilly named friendliest place in England – and Barking least friendly

St Agnes Island, Isles of Scilly. The survey’s findings will feed into a report aimed at confronting social disconnection and division in Britain. Photograph: Aerial Essex/Getty Images

The Isles of Scilly have been named as the friendliest place in England as part of a major study into social division across Britain.

All 296 local authority areas have been ranked in a new index using government data from the community life survey, measuring how often people chat to neighbours, feelings of loneliness and belonging, local pride, and levels of participation in civic life.