PEOPLE in north Essex are significantly more likely to die in car accidents than residents in other parts of the country.

Regional health maps published by the Government today show people across the county are generally fitter and more robust than the national norm.

Overall health is above-par in Colchester, Braintree and Maldon and in line with national trends in Tendring.

But in all four districts of north Essex and countywide, there is an above-average number of road crashes which result in death or serious injuries.

In Colchester 65 people in every 100,000 were involved in serious accidents between 2005 and 2007, compared to 54.3 per 100,000 for England as a whole.

Falling cancer, heart disease and stroke death rates helped Essex residents enjoy longer lives than the national average.

Between 2005 and 2007 in Colchester, 61.4 people per 100,000 died from a stroke or heart disease before their 75th birthdays, compared to 79.1 countrywide. Howerver Tendring had an average of 82 deaths per 100,000 people.

The report by the Association of Public Health Observatories raised concerns that people in deprived areas of Essex, including Tendring, Harlow and Basildon die younger than those in affluent areas such as Uttlesford.

Location was also shown to have an effect on the likelihood of dying from specific causes.

The number of people who died as a result of winter illness in rural Maldon was roughly a third higher than in Colchester.

SPECIAL REPORT IN WEDNESDAY'S GAZETTE