CHESHIRE has been voted as one of the top 10 most beautiful counties in England.

The 'flat county' came eighth in a UKTV poll of 4,000 people, who were asked to rate their most picturesque county from a shortlist compiled by celebrity gardeners Charlie Dimmock, Tommy Walsh and Diarmuid Gavin.

North Yorkshire came first, Devon second, with Cheshire - home of Norton Priory and Tatton Park - securing a top 10 berth with 1.2 per cent of the votes.