PEOPLE living in deprived parts of the North-East suffer from the worst health in the country, according to Census figures.

The details released from the Census 2001 yesterday gave the richest picture yet of life and society across the country.

But the legacy of the mining and shipbuilding industries was once again blamed as County Durham stood out for the highest number of people in the country in poor health, while Easington was among the worst local authority areas for illness.

An average of 9.2 per cent of people in England and Wales said their health was "not good" compared with 13.2 per cent in County Durham and 17.3 per cent in Easington.

The former pit community of Easington also had the highest number of people who acted as unpaid carers for the elderly or sick.

It was the first time the Census, which is compiled every ten years, had asked about unpaid care. Figures revealed that four per cent of people in Easington devoted more than 50 hours a week to caring for sick relatives or friends.

Dr Roger Bolas, chief executive of Easington Primary Care Trust, said the result was not new and there had been an increase in funds since.

"What this shows is that if you have high rates of unemployment along with high levels of long-term limiting illnesses you get a population of very needy people," he said.

Meanwhile, Tracy Cordell of Fit For You lifestyle and fitness consultancy in Chester-le-Street, said the key to better health was in the way granny used to cook.

"Although the poorer areas of the North cannot afford the gym or to buy organic foods, which are better nutritionally than processed, they can still do an awful lot," she said.

"The three key things are to drink lots of water, be more active and avoid processed foods."

The Census results gave detailed breakdowns of race, religion, health, family relationships, housing and work.

Fans of the film Star Wars were hoping to invent a new religion when an Internet campaign encouraged 390,000 people to write "Jedi" next to "what religion are you?"

The spotlight was on Easington again, as the community had the least number of Jedi followers in the country, closely followed by the Sedgefield constituency of Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Initial feedback from the Census in September revealed that population figures for the North-East had fallen by almost five per cent while the South-East had risen by more than ten per cent - prompting fears of a "brain drain" from North to South.