People in the Westcountry are more likely to live into their mid-seventies than those living elsewhere in England or Wales, official figures show.

The Office for National Statistics compared the probability of survival to age 75 in the periods 1981-83 and 2004-06.

Their research showed that the likelihood of living to 75 in England and Wales rose markedly over the period, from 47 per cent to 66 per cent for males and from 66 per cent to 77 per cent for females.

In 2004-06, males in the South West had a 70 per cent chance of living to 75 compared with a 62 per cent chance in the North East, while females had an 80 per cent chance in the South West and 74 per cent in the North East.

The research also showed that at local authority level males and females were most likely to live into their mid-seventies in east Dorset.

Women in the area had an 86 per cent likelihood of reaching 75, while men had a 78 per cent chance.

At the other end of the spectrum, males were least likely to live to 75 in Manchester where they had only a 52 per cent chance, while females had only a 67 per cent chance of reaching this milestone in Blaenau Gwent.

Overall, the results highlighted a clear north-south divide which echoes longstanding inequalities in mortality within England and Wales.