Essex is just outside the top 50 healthiest areas in the UK, according to new data.

But Southend and Thurrock are trailing behind after being ranked in the bottom half of the healthiest areas.

The rankings, which are based on data provided by the Office for National Statistics and Lane Clark & Peacock were found by combining different factors in every region such as alcohol misuse, adult obesity, dementia and cancer.

The index was produced following a request from government ministers to assess the health of the UK in a bid to measure the effects of policy on health, and is thought to be the first of its kind in the world.

Essex is ranked 52nd out of 149 areas – some way ahead of Southend which came 89th on the list.

Thurrock was the lowest of the three areas, coming in 98th place.

Former chief medical officer professor Dame Sally Davies, who led the study alongside Dr Jonathan Person-Stuttard, recommended such a table be created in 2018.

Dr Pearson-Stuttard, head of health analytics at LCP, said the index of 149 local authority areas should be viewed as 'an asset to the nation'.

He told The Sunday Times: “The numbers reveal clear and substantial differences across England and should be a wake-up call to the government to deliver on its manifesto pledge to level up regional inequalities.

“While there is some encouragement to be had from slight improvements in measures related to wellbeing and mortality, these have been cancelled out by worsening mental and physical health morbidity.

“These may have deteriorated further as a result of Covid-19.”

The healthiest area in the UK was revealed as Wokingham, with a score of 110, while the unhealthiest area, according to the data, is Salford, with a score of 94.

Essex scored well in areas such as risk factors for children and road traffic volume.

But it was marked down for air pollution and job training.

Dementia and household overcrowding were one of several areas which received low ratings when Southend was assessed.

But it did well in children’s health and GCSE achievement – supporting a recent study which found Southend was one of the best areas to have a family in the UK.

Thurrock’s lowest ratings were in the healthy eating and air pollution categories.

It was given good ratings for drug misuse (or lack of) and young people’s education and employment.