Not only do people who live in the south of England live longer than their counterparts in the north, they also enjoy more years of good health.

However, most of us can expect to have to endure several years of ill health at the end of our lives.

Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics give an official breakdown of how long people can expect to remain in good health in various parts of the country.

Healthy life expectancy: Top Ten

East Surrey 72.7 years Suffolk 72.6 Oxfordshire 72.3 North and East Devon 72.3 Wiltshire 72.2 Kingston and Richmond 72.2 West Surrey 72.1 Bromley 72.1 Herefordshire 72.0 East and North Hertfordshire 71.9

They reveal that there is a big north-south divide.

All the most healthy areas are in the south, while eight of the bottom 10 areas are north of the Watford Gap.

The figures show that people living in East Surrey can expect to live to an average of 72.7 years without suffering a serious disease.

In Manchester the average figure is just 61.0 years, compared with a national average of 68.3 years.

Ill health

The difference in health is also reflected in overall life expectancy. East Surrey residents can expect to live for nearly six years longer than their counterparts in Manchester, whose average life expectancy is 73.5 years.

Overall, the average life expectancy across England is 77.5 years, meaning that on average a person can expect to suffer 9.2 years of ill health at the end of their life.

Healthy life expectancy: Bottom Ten

Manchester 61.0 years Barnsley 62.1 Liverpool 62.4 Wigan and Bolton 62.6 Sunderland 63.2 Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham 63.3 East London and the City 63.7 Tees 63.7 Wakefield 63.8 Walsall 64.0

It is the first time that statistics for healthy years of life have been collated. Previously, the only data collected as been information on overall life expectancy.

The latest figures are designed to help ministers to direct more money to parts of the country with the most pressing need.

The statistics show that men are healthiest in the South East, where they are likely to live without serious illness for 70.3 years. Their overall life expectancy is 76 years.

They are worst off in the North West, where the average length of a healthy life is only 64.4 years, and overall life expectancy is 73.4 years.

Among women, the healthiest in the South East can expect to be healthy for 71.5 of their 80.7 years.

In the North West, women can expect to remain healthy until 67.3 years - but on average live for another 11.3 years after that.

An ONS spokesperson said: "Healthy life expectancy in England is increasing, but not by as much as life expectancy.

"People can expect to live more years in 'not good' health."

The main differences between areas was likely to be social and economic.

The ONS figures cover the period 1992 to 1998.