Richmond students are among the most successful Oxbridge applicants in the country.

Almost a third of admissions to Oxford and Cambridge last year came from applicants in only 10 local authorities in the south’s wealthiest parts, according to data from the Guardian.

A Freedom of Information request from the newspaper revealed students from London and the south-east of England won more than 1,500 of the 5,100 places available.

Richmond got 101 offers of Oxbridge places from 263 applications last year, which is 28 offers and 73 applications per 1,000 16 to 17-year-olds in the borough.

According to the data, the England and Wales average was three per 1,000, but some areas had fewer than one per 1,000 going to Oxbridge.

Surrey sent almost as many young people to study at Cambridge and Oxford last year as Wales and the north-east region of England combined.

The Guardian said Anglesey, Flintshire and Middlesbrough had the lowest offer rates.

Councillor Paul Hodgins, Richmond’s cabinet member for schools, said: “We are lucky to have excellent schools in our borough, both state and independent, and of course dedicated students who work hard to earn their places. I congratulate them on their well deserved success.

“Still, our schools are working to increase these opportunities even further for all our students, whatever background and means.”