A STUDY has found that people in the North-East are less likely to be burgled or have their car stolen than 15 years ago, but are more likely to be robbed.

The "quality of life" indicators, unveiled by the Government, revealed that recorded burglary across the region fell by 65 per cent between 1990 and last year, the biggest drop in England.

There was a 65 per cent decline in vehicle crime over the same period, which was also the largest improvement in the country.

But there was a 166 per cent rise in recorded robbery, although this had fallen back from a higher total in 2003.

And despite other improvements, North-Easterners still die younger than their fellow Englishmen and women and are more likely to be victims of cancer, according to the 2005 sustainable development indicators released by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The figures show region by region how England is faring on issues including health, housing, education and the environment.

The falls in burglary and vehicle crime in the North-East meant that crime rates, which were significantly higher in 1990, were now similar to the England and Wales average.

Robberies have increased in every region which meant that at 89 per 100,000 people, the North-East rate was still little more than half the England and Wales average of 168.

Yorkshire, meanwhile, can boast the highest number of trips per person made by walking and cycling in England and the lowest childhood obesity levels.

But the region saw the smallest improvement in river quality and has the highest proportion of people perceiving access to shops and supermarkets to be difficult.