Liverpool produces more comedians per head than anywhere else in Britain, a new survey claims.

And it is closely followed by Manchester, making the North West the most successful breeding ground for comics.

Liverpool - home of Jimmy Tarbuck, Ken Dodd and Lily Savage ­ has spawned one comedian for every 55,000 of its current population.

Manchester has one comic per 72,000 residents, closely followed by Birmingham, with a comedian for every 79,000 people.

Glasgow was next in the comedy league, drawn up to coincide with Red Nose Day, with one comic in 87,000.

Psychologist Dr Pat Spungin said: "Many people in the North West originate from Ireland, which has a very strong oral and literary tradition and makes people appreciative of word play, puns and jokes.

"Another factor may be the social and economic circumstances in the region; Liverpudlian humour grew historically in the face of economic hardship along with a strong sense of community and this tradition lives on today."