An otter on the bank of the Sixmile River, Antrim by Jim McAlorum.

Manann Mclir, the mythical Celtic god of the sea, overlooking Lough Foyle and Magilligan Point. Taken from Gortmore viewing point by Glenn Miles

Taken during a trip along the Antrim coast road. Pic Debbie Deboo

Taken at An Creagan when I went to photograph the local fungi. Pic Debbie Deboo

This was taken while out on a walk along the North Down coastal path as the sun was setting. Pic David J Campbell

Old Mill outside Portaferry, Co Down. Pic David J Campbell

The Mourne Mountains from Legananny Dolman, Co Down. By Margaret Whittock

Donaghadee lighthouse, Co Down. By Angela Couzens from Victoria, Australia.

The River Lagan at Lisburn on Christmas morning. By Gareth Baillie-Stewart

Mountain Cornflower, taken on the banks of the Inver River, Larne. Pic Ed Luke

Portrush and Ramore Head from the West Strand, Co Antrim. By Joan Eakin

The Walled Garden at Bangor Castle, Co Down. By Maureen Ross

Rapeseed fields in Hillsborough, Co Down. By Ricky Thompson

Sheep in the snow, with Slemish in the distance. By Bill Guiller

The sun rising over Groomsport, Co Down. By David J Campbell

A swan and her cygnets at the Lakeside Inn Car Park, Lake Road, Downpatrick. Pic Harry Thomson

Sunset over the River Bann seen from Drumaheglis Marina and Caravan Park. Photo by Adam McVeigh

View from the Blackford Dolphin Oil rig currently at Harland and Wolff. Photograph by Ian Wood. Ian said: "I took this sunrise picture at the end of my night shift. Thought it was pretty spectacular with such calm water and the reflection of the docks lights."

River Lagan, Belfast. Photo by Melissa Smyth. Melissa says: ", I took this image last year at the Chinese harvest festival. I love this image as when you look closely at the river you can see paper flowers with candles floating up the Lagan. Everyone is given their own flower and candle and you write on the bottom your hopes and dreams and if it floats up the river it will come true. It almost looks like a scene from a movie."

Portstewart by Michele Bell. Michele says: "I took this pic of my four nieces last August one evening as we had a walk on Portstewart strand. It was the end of a summer holiday up there. I love this pic as it reminds me of fun times in one of the most beautiful beaches."

Picture of Strangford Lough from Islandhill in April by Kellie Bell

Samson and Goliath and the Blackford Dolphin oil rig. Photograph by Philip McCloy from Newtownabbey.

Albertbridge, Belfast by Peter Casey. Peter said: "I took this after hearing about the starling roost under the Albertbridge. They do this fabulous aerial display known as a 'murmuration' before they settle from the night."

Kircubbin Harbour at dusk by Catherine Stone. Catherine said: " I am originally from Carnalea, now living in Cheshire. I was across visiting my parents at the weekend. I was blown away at this beautiful sunset. I just had to take a photo."

Portaferry and Strangford by Larry Claxton. Larry said: "I took this photograph from Windmill Hill in Portaferry. It looks across to Strangford and the ferry is half way across the lough."

'This picture was taken at Island Hill in May, 2014'. Pic Kellie Bell

Peace Bridge in Derry by Tommy Barrett - 'This photo was taken from the Peace Bridge in Derry during the Lumiere Festival during the City of Culture year 2013'

Titanic Belfast by Denny Huebner - 'I'm from from Florida in the US. Last summer we took a tour through Northern Ireland. We really enjoyed Belfast and the Titanic Museum'

'I took this image early one morning at Lough Eske during a stay at the Castle. This was our first trip to the castle and we had a wonderful time' - Pic Paul Jepps

'These photographs were taken during my morning walk on Gibb's Island, Killyleagh, Co Down. It really is a beautiful place' - Pic Laura Skinner

'These photographs were taken during my morning walk on Gibb's Island, Killyleagh, Co Down. It really is a beautiful place' - Pic Laura Skinner

'These photographs were taken during my morning walk on Gibb's Island, Killyleagh, Co Down. It really is a beautiful place' - Pic Laura Skinner

Taken on the road down from Binevenagh looking down on to Downhill Beach - one of my favourite places in Northern Ireland. Submitted by Rodney Harrison

This is the Waterworks otherwise known as the Donaghaguy Reservoir just outside Warrenpoint Co. Down at sunset the other night. It is a popular fishing spot with resident families of swans and ducks and has a walkway around it as well as the fishing piers. Submitted by Brian McCalmont

Oak Trees taken on 6th July at Redcastle Co Donegal looking with Lough Foyle & Binnevagh Mountain in the background - submitted Christopher Tierney

Devenish Island- Co Fermanagh ...taken 1st July 2014..beautiful day out on Lough Erne....by Liam McClean from Omagh

Stroove Beach and lighthouse Co Donegal with Lough Foyle & Binnevagh Mountain in the background - submitted by Christopher Tierney, Derry City

'This photo was taken from below Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge while I was on holiday'. Pic Andrew Carson, Westminster, Colorado

Locals claim this building in Portbraddan, Co Antrim is the smallest church in Ireland. It was built 1950s as cow byre. Photo by David Fennelly

I was driving along the Strangford Lough shore road (on a bird watching trip )two or three miles from Newtownards when I spotted this magical view of hay bales with the lough and Scrabo in the distance. I thought 'isn’t Northern Ireland the most wonderful place to live?'. It was so beautiful and I had to stop and take a photo. By Noeni Bryars, Harmony Hill Lambeg.

Wheatear (female) in prime condition to depart shortly for that long flight back to its Winter Grounds in Central Africa By Christine Cassidy, Derry

This firey red sky was taken from my house in Derryboy. Picture by Scarlett Clarke. Sept 2014

About the picture - it was a day of sunshine and showers, clearly seen on the horizon. When and where - On the way back to Belfast City Airport after a wedding in Carlingford in July. Submitted by Annmarie Meredith, living in London

A picture of Dawn at Cloonatrig taken from the jetty at Cloonatrig, Upper Lough Erne. Picture by Ernest Parker November 2014

Sunrise over Belfast Lough. Taken by David Adams from the high rise flats in Rathcoole.

Mother and father swans with their cygnets at Portavoe near Bangor- taken by Ellen Thompson (Bangor) June 2015

My young daughter Saoirse Hanna, aged 3, enjoying the view at Antrim Castle Gardens (June 10) on a brief visit from London.Submitted by Emmett Hanna

The road to mountains of mourne taken with an iPhon. Picture: Roy Goudie

View of the city of Derry as seen from Waterside area. Submitted by Frank Fleming June 2015

The Giant's Causeway, Bushmills, Co. Antriim - Taken by Frank Ryan from Dublin, June 2015

The view from Arranmore Island looking back across to Donegal on July, 2015 . I live in Liverpool, I'm from Derry and was visiting Arranmore Island. Submitted by Martin McCauley

I think this picture captures the tranquillity of Donegal. This was taken while holidaying at Dunfanaghy in July 2015. My son decided to have a paddle in the evening. Submitted by Andrew Tait, from Millisle.

Ballintoy Harbour on the Causeway Coast, Co. Antrim on Saturday 25th July 2015. I live in Brussels, Belgium but I am from West Belfast. I was over visiting for the week with my Flemish boyfriend and his family. Submitted by Emma Rainey

A beautiful August day in Annalong, Co Down. By Paul Briggs from Portadown

Little Isaac Bradford (5) from east Belfast, plays in the water at Cranfield Beach, Carlingford Lough. Pictured by his dad, Andy Bradford.

This photo along the North Down coastal path facing east over Belfast Lough shows a fairly rare phenomenon known as anticrepuscular rays, where the area of the sky directly opposite the setting sun appears to have rays coming from nowhere. (Photo by Denis Slattery)

This was taken at Lough Fea outside Cookstown by Cathy McGuigan Draperstown. Autumn 2015

A wonderful sunset high up in the Sperrin mountains. Taken in the Sperrin Mountains near Lough Fea by Steven Hylands Banbridge

Steven Hylands, from Banbridge took this picture of Clare Glen. You can see a herron in the distance waiting patiently to catch any fish swimming down stream! November 2015

Newcastle Co Down. Taken November 2015 by Ivor Anderson

Trevor Denton From Crumlin took this at the harbour in Buncrana. It will probably take more than a lick of paint to get this vessel shipshape again. Nov 2015

St Johns Point Lighthouse, in Co Down. Taken November 2015 by Ivor Anderson

This is a photo of the old St Lurach's church in Maghera - taken by Mark McDougall. Autumn 2015

Hugh McCloy, from Moneymore Co Derry took this picture of Lough Melvin Flangans Point, looking across the lough to the mountains

Donegal cows graze along the shoreline of Carnboy Lough close to Carrickfinn with Mount Errigal in the distance on the hottest day of year, so far. Picture by Liam McBurney

Slemish from the Nursery Road outside Gracehill on my walk over to my parent's farm - submitted by Lorraine Mulholland July 2016

Photo taken at Drumcrow Jetty (known locally as Jason's Walk) July 2016. Taken on an iPhone 6+. Had to wait until the water settled as my Retreiver had just been in swimming. Keith Livingstone - Monea, Co Fermanagh.

I took this picture on my phone on Thursday 21st July 2016. It was sunrise in Crawfordsburn and is just as it was-Beautiful colours! Carol Rowney

I took this photo of the view over Strangford Lough to Scrabo Tower on my mobile - July 2016. I didn't notice the unusual cloud formation till after I'd taken the picture! Submitted by Jane Gregory

The new Lisburn and Castlereagh District Council area has been named the top place to live in Northern Ireland.

An in-depth analysis of the 11 super-council areas revealed it was the district with the highest overall quality of life.

It has the lowest rates, the lowest unemployment, the highest earnings and joint highest life expectancy in Northern Ireland.

People living in Lisburn and Castlereagh live around two years longer than people living in the worst-performing council area, Derry and Strabane, which has the highest unemployment rate (8%) and the highest proportion of children in receipt of free school meals (28.7%). The lowest house prices were also in Strabane at £80,625, although Derry's fared better at £90,350.

The analysis, carried out by Detail Data, examined a range of social and economic indicators, revealing wide differences across areas including education, health, employment and more.

Welcoming the study, MP for Lagan Valley Jeffrey Donaldson said: "I'm not a bit surprised by this result. I've always maintained that Lisburn is the best place to live in Northern Ireland - and now this survey proves it.

"The city has great schools, excellent infrastructure, low unemployment and great people. That's not to say it's perfect. There's still a lot we can do to help Lisburn fulfil its potential and make it the city we know it can be."

The key findings from the report include:

The 11 new councils have inherited debt totalling more than £1billion, equivalent to nearly £550 for every person living in Northern Ireland;

There is a difference of nearly 25% between the rates bills of similarly priced homes in different districts;

Many other councils show poor results, including in Belfast, where poverty and overcrowding in deprived areas is blamed for low life expectancy and high levels of housing stress, and;

The Antrim and Newtownabbey Council area has the lowest level of educational attainment with just 54% of pupils achieving five or more GCSEs (A* to C) including English and maths.

While the findings contained few surprises for people living in the north west, the survey has rekindled anger at the perceived lack of government investment in the area.

Commentator Eamonn McCann said: "This survey makes it abundantly clear that the north west continues to be systemically neglected, whether that is roads, rail, university and job creations, in comparison to other parts of the Northern Ireland.

"Fifty years ago this was the case, but then we knew to blame the unionist one-party state steeped in sectarianism, but who do we blame now?

"We have plenty of representation from the north west in Stormont that should be making more noise about the clear and obvious neglect."

A representative from Derry City and Strabane District Council was not immediately available for comment.

Read More

How our council areas match up

1. Lisburn & Castlereagh

Average earnings: £20, 246

Average house price: £129,795

2. Ards and North Down

Average earnings: £19,035

Average house price: £119,725

3. Mid & East Antrim

Average earnings: £19,972

Average house price: £96,700

4. Fermanagh & Omagh DC

Average earnings: £17,435

Average house price: £95,000

5. Antrim & Newtownabbey BC

Average earnings: £19,355

Average house price: £109,975

6. Mid Ulster DC

Average earnings: £16,682

Average house price: £107,000

7. Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon BC

Average earnings: £18,322

Average house price: £95,300

8. Causeway Coast and Glens BC

Average earnings: £18,305

Average house price: £106,600

9. Belfast City Council

Average earnings: £19,388

Average house price: £100,000

10. Newry, Mourne and Down DC

Average earnings: £18,233

Average house price: £113,000

11. Derry City & Strabane DC

Average earnings: £16,580

Average house price: £85,500

Find your dream home at propertynews.com

Belfast Telegraph