The 'unfair' Greater Manchester town where a four-mile distance decides the day you die

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Depending on where you live in Wigan your life expectancy can differ by up to eight years, health bosses have confirmed. As a woman living in Winstanley your life expectancy would be the best in the borough at 84.5 years - almost eight years better off than women in Ince who have a life expectancy of 77.1 years.

If you are a man living in the Shevington with Lower Ground ward you are expected to live almost eight years longer than men in Leigh Central and Higher Folds - 81.7 years compared to 73.8 years, according to Local Health, a subsidiary of Public Health England.

Further data from Public Health England suggests that Wiganers are expected to live for two years less than the national average. Join our WhatsAp p Top Stories and Breaking News group by clicking this link Historically, obesity, smoking and alcohol consumption has been a problem in the borough, but health bosses have recognised one factor that links every issue in health - deprivation.

Rachael Musgrave, director of public health for Wigan, said: “The things that make the big difference are the building blocks of good health, so good housing, employment, friends and family, access to transport and education. “Essentially having the Health and Wellbeing Board focussing on those building blocks is the shift, so to do that we have to have the right people around the table.