Life expectancy for men in North Somerset has reached its highest-ever level, according to newly-released figures.

The estimated lifespan for men in the district has past the 80-year mark for the first time, with the Office of National Statistics predicting men will live for 80.3 years on average.

The improvements make North Somerset the 24th best area for male life expectancy in the country, out of 149 surveyed.

Experts say North Somerset’s general affluence means it ‘outperforms’ many other parts of the country.

The figures also show that North Somerset’s male population will live 83 per cent of their lives in good health – the equivalent of 66.8 years.

Mark Baker, chief executive of Age UK in Bristol, said North Somerset is a good place to live for older people to extend their lives.

He said: “People who live in more middle class and affluent counties (generally) have much higher life expectancy.

“So if North Somerset is out-performing other places, that is probably because there are more middle class people living in the district than other areas of the UK.”

The area with the lowest ‘healthy years’ life expectancy in the country was Blackpool (55 years), while Wokingham in Surrey had the best, with 70.5 years of good health.