Yahoo News London is the 'least neighbourly' part of UK to live in during the coronavirus crisis
London is the least neighbourly part of the UK to live in during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new study.
Researchers from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) measured the percentage of people who checked on the welfare of their neighbours and found dramatic regional variations.
According to the study, the fewest people checked on their neighbours in London while people in the South West were the most neighbourly.
Under half of Londoners said they had checked on their neighbours “at least once”, compared with over 60% in the South West.
Almost 40% of those living in the capital said they had never visited their neighbours, with just 25% admitting the same in the South West.
Elsewhere in the ONS study, researchers reported that 79% of people said their friends and family were helping them to cope while being at home.
A total of 18% of people reported feeling the lockdown had put strain on their personal or work relationships and 22% of people reported at least some feelings of loneliness.
In April, 70% of people believed that if they needed help, there were people who would be there to help them.
Only 64% of people thought that way in London, compared to 74% in Wales and 73% in the South East.
In the South West, 74% of people believed they could rely on their neighbours for help, but people in the West Midlands were the least optimistic at 61%.
Overall, more than three-quarters of people across the UK thought that people were doing more things to help other people during the lockdown.
It comes as the government and police have urged people to continue to follow social distancing guidelines, a week after the relaxation of guidelines to allow people to visit beauty spots in England.
"Please use common sense when it comes to social distancing," the Metropolitan Police's Hillingdon branch tweeted.
As lockdown restrictions continue to be eased, crowds flocked to beauty spots on Bank Holiday Monday, raising concerns in some areas.
People are being reminded to practise social distancing this week as more fine weather tempts Britons outside.
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