LIFE expectancy for men and women in Maldon has gone up – with women seeing the biggest rise.

The figures contrast with the picture across the UK, where life expectancy for males has dropped for the first time since current records began and has barely changed for females.

Statisticians have blamed the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, but said the figures do not necessarily mean those born in recent years will go on to live a shorter life.

Office for National Statistics data shows that in Maldon, a boy born between 2018 and 2020 is expected to live until they are 80.5 years old – up from 80.2 in 2015-17.

Meanwhile, life expectancy for females rose from 83.4 to 83.9 between the two periods.

Across the UK, a baby boy born in 2018-20 is expected to live until he is 79, down from 79.2 for the 2015-17 period, while a girl born in 2018-20 is estimated to live for 82.9 years, the same as in 2015-17.

The figures reflect the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, which led to a greater number of deaths than usual last year, the ONS said.

Spokesman Pamela Cobb said: “Life expectancy has increased in the UK over the last 40 years, albeit at a slower pace in the last decade.

“However, the coronavirus pandemic led to a greater number of deaths than normal in 2020.

“Consequently, in the latest estimates, we see virtually no improvement in life expectancy for women, while for men life expectancy has fallen back to levels reported for 2012 to 2014."