England’s top 10 unhealthiest towns REVEALED – where the average resident dies up to a decade early

A new report has revealed that Blackpool is among the northern areas of England with the lowest life expectancy.

A stunning analysis by health think tank The King’s Fund has found that men in the seaside town can expect to live just 73.7 years on average; This is almost a decade less than those living in Hart, Hampshire, which has the highest life expectancy.

Women in Blackpool fare slightly better, with a life expectancy of only 79.1 years; This is significantly below the national average and the lowest life expectancy in England.

The report revealed a stark North-South divide, with Londoners living an average of three years longer than those in the North East.

While life expectancy has reached record levels across the country (in England men are expected to live to 80 and women to almost 84), the gains have been largely seen in the South.

And the report, described as a ‘mark of shame’, claims that the northern regions have made little progress.

Among the lowest, Blackpool is joined by Kingston upon Hull and Middlesbrough, where men are only expected to live to 75.5. Manchester follows with 75.6 years, while Lincoln follows with an average of 75.9 years.

According to the report, Daily Mail’s interactive maps and tables show the regions with the highest and lowest life expectancy.

Women in Blackpool are expected to live longer than men, with life expectancy reaching 79.1 years, but this is still around eight years less than women in Hart, Kensington and Chelsea, where women’s life expectancy is the highest in England.

Veena Raleigh, senior fellow at The King’s Fund, said: ‘It is a mark of shame for a rich country that people in our northern and poorer communities have seen little or no improvement in life expectancy over a decade, in contrast to the health gains in their southern and wealthier counterparts.

‘Addressing this disparity in the nation’s health is not just a matter of social justice; This will also reduce pressure on the NHS and the high economic costs of health problems.’

Blackpool’s stance is perhaps unsurprising given a number of recent reports highlighting the town’s poor health, separate from The King’s Fund’s analysis.

A report published last May revealed Blackpool was the ‘takeaway capital’ of the North West, with 25 fast food shops per 10,000 people.

Another report found Blackpool had four times the average number of deaths from drugs and almost twice as many deaths from smoking.

It was also found that England has the highest rates of alcohol-related deaths and serious mental health problems.

Places with higher levels of poverty, such as Liverpool and Burnley, also feature among the places with the lowest life expectancies in the King’s Fund’s analysis.

This was in stark contrast to affluent places frequented by the rich and famous, such as Kensington and Chelsea in the South, where women live an average of 87.1 years.

The report found that people in the North East were more likely than Londoners to be overweight or obese and to have high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

They were also more likely to die prematurely from cancer and heart disease; Rates of suicide, drug deaths, and alcohol-related deaths were also higher.

Overall, healthy life expectancy (the number of years a person can expect to live in good health) has fallen by around two and a half years in England.

However, people in affluent areas lived on average six to seven years longer in good health than those in the poorest areas.

Life expectancy in Britain as a whole was found to be the lowest of all comparable high-income countries except Germany and the USA.

The report suggests that London’s strong economy, higher wages and better job opportunities are helping people live longer and healthier lives.

In contrast, they say, many northern communities are still living with the effects of industrial decline, having dealt with the effects of factory and industry closures for decades.

They argue that this leads to higher levels of poverty, unemployment and poorer living conditions, which in turn contribute to poorer health and shorter lives.

Ms Raleigh added: ‘Improving population health and reducing deep-seated health inequalities has never been more urgent, but also more challenging, given the economic constraints the country faces.

‘Concerted, bold, intergovernmental action will be required to reduce largely preventable diseases such as poor diet, drinking and smoking-related cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and to tackle the wider determinants of persistent poor health, particularly among northern and poor communities.

‘One of the three “radical changes” in the government’s ten-year health plan is aimed at preventing disease.

‘A year later, modest moves on this front fall well short of the bold action needed to improve public health, reduce inequalities and increase people’s lives and years of health.’

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: ‘Someone’s postcode should never determine how long they live, and this government is committed to tackling the stark inequalities that still exist across Britain.

‘We are already taking action, from allocating family medicine funds more equitably to establishing pioneering neighborhood health centers in areas where they are needed most.

‘But now we will go further in devolving power to local communities, putting decision-making in the hands of those who know their field best and creating lasting change across the country.’