PEOPLE in some areas of Huddersfield face dying five years earlier than others.

Shocking inequalities in life expectancy show up if you live in Paddock or Birkby, where your life expectancy is 75.

But if you live in Holmfirth or Meltham it rises to over 80.

The figures come from a new Government report, The Health Profile of England.

The report from the Health Department looks at each council area and examines how they stack up in terms of life expectancy, smoking deaths, drug misuse and infant deaths, among other factors.

The depressing picture for Kirklees shows that life expectancy at birth varies greatly on a ward by ward basis compared with the England national average of 78.5 years.

The survey shows four ratings of life expectancy - from significantly lower than the average to significantly higher than the national average.

Almondbury, Batley West, Birkby, Birstall and Birkenshaw, Deighton, Dewsbury East and West, Golcar, Heckmondwike, Mirfield, Newsome, Paddock, Spen and Thornhill wards are all significantly lower than the average.

Holme Valley North, which contains Meltham and Honley, Holme Valley South, which covers Holmfirth and Kirburton ward are significantly higher.

The report says: "Life expectancy in the lowest fifth of wards is 75.6 years, compared with 80.1 years for the highest fifth."

The report does, however, show that the long-term trend over the past decade is for a slight increase in life expectancy in our area - but not at the pace of national figures.

Good news also comes in the form of a graph which shows the number of people dying under 75 from cancer or heart attacks has dropped.

But this is contrasted by the fact that although the number of people of dying from cancer and heart problems is falling it is still above the national average.

Dr Sohail Bhatti, director of public health in Kirklees, said: "The Health Profile provides us with a comprehensive picture of improvements over recent years and highlights the problems we face in Kirklees.

"This information will be valuable in helping us to closely target health inequalities.

"The NHS, in partnership with Kirklees Council, has incorporated a range of initiatives aimed at improving lifestyles, increasing physical activity, tackling obesity and adopting less risky behaviours."