WIRRAL has the highest number of stalkers in the UK per head of population - with Merseyside named the stalking capital of England and Wales, according to reports.

In the first half of 2015/16 there were 275 cases of people caught persistently intruding in another person's life in the county.

The figures obtained by the Daily Mirror found that 86 of these were in Wirral.

Liverpool has more cases, but calculated by per head of population the borough has the worst record.

Examples of stalking include following someone, bombarding them with messages, making unwarranted complaints about them as well as threats and violence.

The Home Office only started separating stalking in its crime data tables from last year.

Previously it would have been categorised as "harassment."

The Home Office is currently running a consultation about whether to introduce a "stalking protection order."

In the foreword to the consultation document, Home Secretary Theresa May wrote: "The nature of stalking can be delusional and obsessive with offenders going to extreme lengths to contact, follow and monitor their victims.

"I am determined that this Government will do everything possible to identify the fixated nature of stalking behaviour at the earliest opportunity, protect victims and intervene to deter perpetrators before stalking behaviour becomes entrenched."

Worst areas for stalking:

1. Wirral, Merseyside: 86 cases, population 320,914, 2.7 cases per 10,000 people.

2. Liverpool, Merseyside: 109 cases, population 473,073, 2.3 cases per 10,000 people.

3. Sefton, Merseyside: 40 cases, population 273,531, 1.5 cases per 10,000 people.

4. St Helens, Merseyside: 22 cases, population 177,188, 1.2 cases per 10,000 people.

5. South Worcester, Worcestershire: 36 cases, population 296,505, 1.2 cases per 10,000 people.

6. Knowsley, Merseyside: 17 cases, population 146,407, 1.2 cases per 10,000 people.

7. North Worcestershire: 30 cases, population 278,916, 1.1 cases per 10,000 people.

8. Caerphilly, South Wales: 19 cases, population 179,941, 1.1 cases per 10,000 people.

9. Rushmoor, Hampshire: 8 cases, population 95,296, 0.8 cases per 10,000 people.

10. Eastleigh, Hampshire: 9 cases, population 128,877, 0.7 cases per 10,000 people.