WORCESTER has been ranked the ninth worst area of England for rising levels of deprivation.

The city is in the most 10 per cent deprived across the country, according to a report.

The health profiles have been published by Public Health England which offers a picture of people’s health in Worcester compared with the England average.

It is designed to act as a ‘conversation starter’ to help local government and health services understand their community’s needs, so that they can work together to improve people’s health and reduce health inequalities.

The most deprived areas highlighted include 'Old' Warndon, east of Cranham Drive, Tolladine, Cranham Primary School area, South-West Gorse Hill, King George’s Field area in Tolladine, Windermere Drive in Warndon, Dines Green and Brickfields.

Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Worcester, Lynn Denham said: “What this means is that within Worcester we have had an increase in our neighbours suffering.

“I was shocked.

“We have been ranked with places such as Walsall and Burnley. Whereas the other districts at the other end of the graph have reduced their levels of deprivation.

“This shows there’s been a huge increase in terms of deprivation in Worcester.”

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Cllr Denham added: “People are being left behind. This is not what a successful economy looks like.”

It’s the first time Worcester has featured in the ‘Indices of Deprivation’ report, which is updated every four years by central Government.

The Indices of Deprivation measure relative levels of deprivation in small areas, called Lower-layer Super Output Areas, in England.

According to the report, life expectancy is 8.4 years lower for men in the most deprived areas of the city.

Worcester is also one of the places which has the largest percentage point increase in LSOA’s.

Conservative parliamentary candidate, Robin Walker said: “We need to provide more help to the deprived areas in Worcester. I believe the government should be investing extra help for the highlighted locations.

“We have already provided schools in those deprived areas with extra funding.

“If I get re-elected as Worcester’s MP, I will work with the people to make sure money is spent on those areas.”

Mr Walker has been involved with the campaign Stronger Towns Fund which targets the more deprived areas in the city and creates new jobs in the area. The fund is part of the government’s commitment to build a more thriving economy.

There are seven factors of deprivation, which combine to create the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD). These include income, employment, education, health, crime, barriers to housing and services and living environment.