Richmond borough has been ranked as the fifth best place in the UK to be born in, live, and die.

The Better Lives Index, produced by the International Longevity Centre (ILC) think tank, ranked authorities across the UK based on nine measures of good living.

These were life expectancy at birth, the child poverty rate, pollution, disposable income, housing costs, "avoidable" mortality, life expectancy at 65, economic activity for over-16s and economic inactivity of 50 to 64-year-olds.

The ILC says the data demonstrates how the place a person is born, grows up in and ultimately grows old in can have a sharp impact on how their lives play out.

According to The Times, "The child poverty rate in the top-ranked areas is 12 per cent on average, but in localities that scored the lowest it is 29 per cent — and more than 40 per cent in Oldham, Pendle and Bradford, all in the north of England.

"Similarly, the think tank highlights how life expectancy at birth varies by an average of four years between the top and bottom-ranked areas."

The largest absolute gap is nine years between Richmond-upon-Thames, where residents can expect to live to 85, and Blackpool, where they are likely to reach 76.

Ben Franklin, deputy chief executive of the ILC, told The Times: "The Better Lives Index shows how where you're born, grow up and grow old shapes your life chances — from life expectancy at birth, child poverty, housing affordability, to job opportunities.

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"Getting policy and support right in every place could deliver huge untapped potential and add billions of pounds to the economy."

Taking first place is the Hampshire district of Hart, and nearby Kingston Upon Thames has been ranked in second place.