1.   Devon and Cumbria, among the worst hit by the disease, were leading contenders to entertain the Downing Street family.

2.   Larger cities have been the worst hit by the crime wave.

3.   So far, northern and central areas, gripped by unusually cold weather since autumn, have been worst hit.

4.   The south of the country is the worst hit by the recession.

5.   Worst hit were the Devon seaside towns of Sidmouth and Exmouth, which were cut off for several hours on Wednesday.

6.   Worst hit will be the South, where people with high mortgages have been most affected by the recession.

7.   The Conservatives were supreme, even in many of the worst hit of the Distressed Areas.

8.   Darlington borough council, Wear Valley and Sedgefield district councils said they were worst hit by the spending limits.

9.   That would mean taking readings in homes and in streets in parts of the city worst hit by the car.

10.   Major importers, most notably Japan, were worst hit.