RYEDALE has been identified as one of the healthiest places in the country.

An NHS report said life expectancy was high, infant mortality was low and heart disease and cancer rates were declining.

The upbeat picture was in the Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Primary Care Trust's annual report, by Dr Jeffrie Strang, director of public health and medical director.

But he said there were many examples of inequality in health between Ryedale and the neighbouring borough of Scarborough.

Dr Strang said: "There is increasing evidence that they are not narrowing. This is shown by the comparison of life expectancy between the more affluent Ryedale population with the less affluent Scarborough population.

"Ryedale has improved its ranking whereas Scarborough's has declined, compared to all other local authorities in England and Wales."

"The more affluent people are, the better their health. Conversely, the poorer people are, the worse their health will be."

Men in Ryedale can expect to live to 78, an improvement of two-and-half years in the past decade, compared with the national average of 75.5 years.

The lifespan of Ryedale's women has risen 1.8 years to 82.6 years, compared to 80.8 years nationally.

Child deaths in Ryedale are below the national average at less than five per 1,000, while for Scarborough, it is nearly nine per 1,000.

Deaths from heart disease are also down in Ryedale - 54 per 100,000 people compared with 60 nationally, and 87 in the Scarborough area.