HEALTH inequalities across west Cheshire are being examined by councillors in Northwich.

Annual reports have been published which paint a picture of public health across the area, looking at a range of topics including pregnancy, dementia, disease, ageing, keeping active, drugs, alcohol, road safety and life expectancy.

Northwich Town Council discussed the report at its latest meeting.

Cllr Paul Dolan said: "There are inequalities in life expectancy in some parts of the borough.

"In Winnington and Castle the average life expectancy for men is 75 and for women is 79.

"In the Strawberry ward, in Chester, the average for a female is 88 years, so in the same borough we've got a difference of almost 15 years in life expectancy.

"There's also the perception people have about drug issues in the area.

"In Winnington and Castle 58 per cent of residents perceive drug misuse and drug dealing as a significant problem in the area and that's the highest figure in Cheshire west apart from Blacon."

Cllr Dolan suggested speaking to Cheshire's police and crime commissioner about the issue of perception.

He added: "If people think it's an issue then it's our issue too."

Cllr Andrew Cooper was concerned about children living in poverty, breast feeding rates and excess weight in children.

"West Cheshire has lower rates of children living in poverty compared to the rest of England, however, unlike the national trend in the rest of the north west it's on the rise," he said.

"There's enormous variations between different locations in the borough.

"In rural areas there's 8.3 per cent of children living in poverty but in Northwich and Winsford it's about 17.5 per cent, which is a staggering difference."

He said breast feeding rates in the area were lower than the rest of England, with 65 per cent compared to 74 per cent nationally.

After six to eight weeks this drops to 35 per cent in west Cheshire and 46 per cent nationally.

"What this tells me is that mothers in the borough aren't getting enough support about breast feeding and it's so important," he said.

In terms of excess weight in children Cllr Cooper said while the national average has stayed relatively static it has grown in west Cheshire to above the national average.

For more information visit cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk, click on 'Your Council' and 'Key Statistics'.