THE QI elves have declared York the cleverest city in the UK.

While launching The Second Book of General Ignorance, the team from QI, the knowledge-based TV programme hosted by Stephen Fry, commissioned a survey asking “general ignorance” questions featured in the book, such as “which country invented football?”; “how many legs does an octopus have?” and “how can you weigh your head?”

About 850 participants were marked on their level of ignorance, plus the logic, creativity and humour of their answers, which ranged from “incredibly well informed” and “hugely entertaining” to “mind-bendingly random” and “gloriously ignorant”.

The research ranked York first out of about 17 towns and cities for brains and logic, and in fourth place for creativity and humour, placing it in first overall, followed by Cockermouth, Uttoxeter, Edinburgh and London.

Professor Andy Smith, from York St John University, vouched for the intelligence of York residents.

He said: “I can’t comment on the rigour of research that ranked York as the brainiest city in Britain. However, with more than 20,000 university students in the city it’s not surprising that York scores well.

“If you add in the number of graduates who remain in the city to live and work and the business activity being stimulated by organisations like Science City York, it starts to form a pretty heady mix of brains, logic and creativity.”

Swindon fared the worst in the research, which has led to complaints from its residents in the national and local media.

The town ranked in 17th place overall and for brains and logic, but was awarded 14th place for the humour and creativity of its answers.

Meanwhile Birmingham, in 16th place overall, ranked lowest for humour and creativity.