In a recent study that could only be described as "breaking" news (Sorry, not sorry), Shepton Mallet was flagged as one of the most accident-prone towns in the UK.

The research was conducted by the 'bone-break detectives' at claims.co.uk, who pored over the latest NHS data to map the frequency of bone fractures across various UK communities, using the number of trips to accident and emergency wards as a 'painful' indicator.

Shepton Mallet - coincidentally known for its cider - stepped into the not-so-coveted sixth spot. Between 2021 and 2022, residents made a grand total of 9,320 trips to the A&E, and 755 of these were due to fractures.

The gold medal for the UK's most accident-prone town went to Chippenham, Wiltshire. The town saw 22,720 A&E visits in a single year, with 2,880 of these being due to broken bones.

Meanwhile, Portsmouth strutted its stuff as the least accident-prone city in the UK. Of its 58,680 A&E visits, only 0.6% were due to fractures - putting the national average of 5.3% to shame.

Sasha Quail, business development manager for claims.co.uk, said: "A broken bone can cause significant disruption to a person's daily life, potentially resulting in loss of income or difficulties in caring for loved ones.

"This research highlights significant disparities in accident rates across UK towns and cities, with Chippenham's fracture rate over 20 times higher than Portsmouth's. Compensation claims can help those who have suffered an injury due to third-party negligence receive the financial support they need to manage their discomfort and disruption."