MEN in East Dorset have the highest life expectancy in the UK and one local councillor has put it down to the care of good women.

A survey just published by the Office of National Statistics reveals that men in the East of the county live up to 11 years longer than men in other parts of the UK.

Glasgow came bottom of the poll with the average male life expectancy at 69.1 years compared with 80.1 years in East Dorset.

And East Dorset women have the seventh highest life expectancy rates in the country - 83.4 years compared with 76.4 years in Glasgow.

Derek Burt, leader of East Dorset District Council, put the good news down to the pleasant living environment and added: "The reason men in East Dorset live so long is because women make such a splendid job of looking after them.

"I don't honestly know why women live even longer - perhaps it's because the men have provided for them so well."

But he went on to say that good leisure and recreation facilities, good quality services from hospitals and GPs and decent schools have all played a part in the result.

He added: "I'm not surprised people in East Dorset have a greater life expectancy - it's such a pleasant living environment. It's a healthy environment.

"This statistic is further confirmation that the services provided by the local authorities within the East Dorset area are right for the people that have the pleasure of living here. It's the quality of life that people enjoy so much."

And it seems we're all living longer than we used to - life expectancy for men in East Dorset has increased by almost three years in the past decade and women are living on average a year longer.

Elsewhere in the county, Christchurch ranked highly in the poll, with women ranked fifth with a life expectancy of 83.6 years and men ranking 58th with a life expectancy of 78.2 years.

First published: October 18