LIFE expectancy in East Lancashire has steadily increased in recent years, but men in Blackburn and Burnley still die younger than those in almost every other UK borough.

New figures released by the Office for National Statistics show life expectancy for Burnley men was 75.6 in 2009 – 2011, the fourth lowest in the country, behind Blackpool, Manchester and Salford.

The figure for Blackburn with Darwen men was 75.7, the sixth lowest, while Hyndburn and Rossendale also appeared in the bottom 15 boroughs.

East Lancashire women live significantly longer on average [to just over 80], but Hyndburn, Blackburn and Burnley all appeared in the bottom 15 when compared to other areas.

However, overall life expectancy for the area has increased by about four years in the last decade for men and women.

Azhar Ali, health boss at Lancashire County Council, said: “These statistics just reinforce the north-south divide and clearly indicate that East Lancashire needs long term investment and the creation of sustainable, full-time, well paid jobs, in order that the quality of people’s lives can improve.”

Councillor Ali, Labour, said he would write to chancellor George Osborne to ask for measures to help stimulate economic growth, suggesting thousands of civil service jobs could be relocated to the area.

Factors such as high smoking rates, alcohol problems and poor housing are thought to have a significant impact on life expectancy.

Mohammed Khan, cabinet member for health at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “I am encouraged that we are travelling in the right direction.

“However, we are still amongst the least healthy 20 per cent of local authority areas in England and need to improve at a much faster rate to create equal health for all....

“That task is made harder by the unprecedented cuts we’ve faced and the limited budgets we now have.

“The most important thing we can do is to make sure our children have the best education and start in life we can give them, to have the best prevention services in the country and to work together to create a vibrant and inclusive economy where everyone gets a chance to work who is able to.”