WORCESTER'S population increased by 12 per cent between 1991 and 2001, the highest percentage increase in the region.

There were 93,353 residents on census day, with more children aged under four and fewer people over 65 than most other parts of the county.

The city had the lowest proportion of married residents (43.3 per cent) and the highest proportion of single (30.1 per cent) or divorced (8.2 per cent).

More than 12 per cent of cohabiting couples were unmarried, compared with 10 per cent in the rest of the county.

Minority ethnic groups made up 3.4 per cent of the population, the largest group being Pakistani.

More than 75 per cent of residents said they were Christians, while 13 per cent said they had no religion and less than two per cent were Muslim.

Nearly 70 per cent of Worcester citizens thought they were in good health, compared with 71 per cent in Bromsgrove, which had the highest proportion and 67.5 per cent in Wyre Forest, which had the lowest.

The city had a high level of economic activity, with a high proportion of people working and 2.76 per cent unemployed, including 29 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds.