NORTH-East men are living six years longer than 20 years ago, while women can expect to live an extra four years, new figures reveal.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that average life expectancy rates in the region remain among the lowest in the country - but the gap is narrowing.

A baby boy born in the North-East in 2011 to 2013 can expect to live to the age of 78, compared to 72 in 1991 to 1993.

A baby girl can now expect to live until 81.7 - up from 77.4 two decades ago.

Babies born in the Middlesbrough Council area have the lowest life expectancy for both boys and girls in the region - 76.7 and 80.1 years respectively.

However, although Middlesbrough remains on a list of the ten areas of the country with the lowest female life expectancy, it no longer features on the male equivalent. The North-East did not feature in a list of the areas of the country with the highest life expectancy.

Male babies born in Northumberland have the highest life expectancy in the North-East - 79.2 years - while the county shares the accolade for girls with North Tyneside.

Both areas boast a female life expectancy of 82.5 years.

In North Yorkshire, life expectancy is generally higher, with Hambleton having the highest in the county for boys and girls - 85 and 81.2 years respectively.

The report states that nationally life expectancy for newborn babies in English regions and Wales has increased by at least five years for boys and 3.4 years for girls over the last 20 years.

However, it adds: "Some regions have experienced greater increases than others, with falling death rates among those aged 65 and over driving the increases seen in life expectancy at birth.

"In general, life expectancy increased at a faster pace in London, the North-East, North-West and the Midlands than in any of the other southern regions.

"This meant that, for baby boys and girls, the gap in life expectancy between the regions with the highest and lowest figures has reduced."

ONS noted that high death rates for North-East men and women aged between 20 and 44 caused life expectancy at birth to reduce by approximately seven days.