Stockport is one of the happiest and healthiest places to retire in England.

That's according to The Sunday Times, which published a list on 17 January ranking the best retirement spots across the nation based on factors such as life expectancy and access to medical care.

Stockport ranked at number 44 overall, in large part due to its higher than average life expectancy and good GP access.

Stockport has the tenth highest life expectancy in England, with residents expected to reach the age of 81 on average.

The borough was also considered to have good GP access, with 14 surgeries for every 100,000 people.

The rankings also considered A&E waiting times, the towns' Happiness Index scores, number of care home beds, and referral times for trauma and orthopaedic services.

The data itself comes from the Office of National Statistics, based on local authority areas. It was compiled by Health Connect Global, a health technology company, for The Sunday Times.

The top ranking locations were Windsor & Maidenhead, Hartlepool, Solihull, Wolverhampton and York, which place from one to five respectively.

Summing up the findings, The Sunday Times concluded that it was "well-connected towns and cities with plenty to see and do" that were delivering "the most optimal physical and mental health" for older people.

Dr Devan Moodley, a mental health specialist and chief executive of Health Connect Global said: "(The research) shines a light on where we are doing brilliantly in this country, but also shows that so much more needs to be done, including investing in better community care and access to family doctors and the best possible support in care homes."

You can read the full list here.

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