FROM picture postcard villages and beautiful countryside to long stretches of golden beach and historic coastline - the many attractions of living in Suffolk are all well known.

Craig Robinson

FROM picture postcard villages and beautiful countryside to long stretches of golden beach and historic coastline - the many attractions of living in Suffolk are all well known.

But now residents have another reason to celebrate after it emerged that they live longer than anywhere else in the UK.

According to a new report from the Office for National Statistics men in Suffolk Coastal have a 77% chance of reaching the age of 75 - the highest in the country along with East Dorset.

Meanwhile males in Mid Suffolk have a 76% chance of reaching their mid 70s - the fifth best in the UK.

Women in the district have an 83% chance of reaching 75 or over, the highest in the county.

Females in East Dorset have the greatest chance of getting to their mid 70s, with figures of 86%.

For those who have been born and bred in Suffolk it is no surprise that life expectancy is one of the best in the country.

Arthur King, 82, who lived in Bromeswell for 50 years before moving to nearby Woodbridge, said: “It's a beautiful part of the world.

“Woodbridge is a lovely town with a wonderful park and of course there's the river Deben. The people are nice - they make you welcome.

“I will be 83 in August and have lived around here all of my life. I have some fantastic memories and wouldn't want to be anywhere else.”

John Askew, 76, who has lived in Woodbridge for 51 years, said: “I love the area. It's got everything you could possibly need.

“I used to live in Ipswich but I decided to move back here. I love everything about it. It's very relaxed and there is some great countryside. It's so nice - you can't help but want to go outside. We're very lucky.”

Dennis Gilbert, 78, has lived in Woodbridge all his life and can regularly be seen riding through town on his bicycle.

“I've never wanted to leave,” he said. “My whole family have lived here for generations. I used to spend most of my time down by the river - swimming and fishing. It's lovely. It's a relaxed way of life and there's not much trouble.”

David Yule is 61 and recently moved to Old Felixstowe from Bury St Edmunds.

“It's got an olde worlde charm about it,” he said. “I can understand why people live longer here because the pace of life is relaxed. We go onto the beach everyday and walk our dogs. In recent years we have been around the world but Felixstowe still has that something special.”

Ray Herring, leader of Suffolk Coastal District Council, said: “Our less frenetic pace of life is doubtless one of the reasons why the health of both men and women in Suffolk Coastal is significantly better than the national average.

“However, the council and others are working together to encourage people to stop smoking, eat healthily, drink sensibly and increase their exercise levels.”