SOUTHEND is one of six areas across the UK which has experienced the sharpest drop in life expectancy, particularly among women.

While male life expectancy fell sharpest in Gloucester, Hartlepool, Norwich and Dundee, for women the biggest falls were Blackburn, Darwen and Southend.

The figures compared expectancy between 2012 to 2014 and 2015 to 2017. Gloucester, Southend and Dundee are among six areas where life expectancy at birth has significantly decreased.

The sharpest fall in life expectancy for men at birth was felt in Gloucester, Hartlepool, Norwich and Dundee, between 2012 to 2014 and 2015 to 2017, while Blackburn with Darwen and Southend ranked poorly for women.

In Gloucester, Dundee and Norwich, the average age fell by 1.4 years, to 77.6 years, 73.9 years and 78.3 years respectively. The town of Hartlepool fell by 1.5 years in the same period, to 76.1 years.

For women in Blackburn with Darwen, a year was lost, tumbling from 81.1 to 80.1, and Southend saw a fall of seven months, standing at 82.4 years. Of the 389 local authorities ranked by the Office for National Statistics, 19 areas experienced a significant increase.

London Borough of Camden ranked first across all local authority areas in the UK for women once again, while Haringey, North London, had the largest positive change, jumping from 301st place, to 54th.

George McNamara, director of policy and influencing at the Independent Age charity said all “deep-rooted” health inequalities are “unacceptable”.

He added: “Healthy life expectancy should not be a postcode lottery, and it’s absolutely essential that we understand and address these inequalities.

“Older age is not just about living longer, but also about having a good quality of life in older age, no matter where you live.”