ACCORDING to the latest government health statistics people living in areas of the north-east have a healthy life expectancy that is significantly lower than areas in the south of the country.

The report, the first of its kind to reveal how long people can expect to stay healthy, has found that there is a big north/south divide.

In the report released today Sunderland and Teesside scored the lowest in the region and both of them were ranked in the bottom ten for the country.

The results are taken between 1992-98 and Sunderland scored the lowest in the region and 5th lowest in the country with an average healthy life expectancy of 63.2 years.

Teesside scored a healthy life expectancy of 63.7 years and came 8th lowest in the country.

County Durham averaged 64.9 years, Gateshead and South Tyneside scored 64.0 years and Newcastle and North Tyneside averaged 64.5 years healthy life expectancy.

The average for the entire country was found to be 68.3 years and this leaves only Northumberland and North Yorkshire, 66.7 years and 69.1 years, showing results that are anywhere near the national average.

The highest results in the country were found to be in in East Surrey, Suffolk and Oxfordshire, all of which averaged over 72 years healthy life expectancy, 9 years more than Sunderland and Teesside.