A study has found that Stopfordians lose more sleep than any other North West residents.

Transport noise pollution - particularly from passing aircraft - was found to be the primary cause for disturbing sleep.

The findings come from a study carried out by Bed Kingdom. It analysed how many years were lost through sleep disruption per 100,000 people.

Stockport came in at number one, with an estimated 252.65 years lost per 100,000 people. That's about 22 hours per year, per person.

Noise pollution from aircraft was responsible for about 63% of these lost hours. Noise from roads accounted for around 30%, and rail for roughly 7%.

A spokesperson for the study said: "Aircraft noise pollution is the biggest contributor to sleep disruption in Stockport [...]

Noise disruption from aircraft was the largest contributor to sleep loss in Stockport, the study found (Image - Dan Stephens / Unsplash)

"Many areas in Stockport are under the flight path of planes from one of the busiest airports in the country, Manchester Airport."

Also high in the rankings were Salford at number two (with high levels of noise from roads), and Chorley at number three, with its busy roads and railways.

Ashley Hainsworth from Bed Kingdom commented on the findings: "Consistent exposure to noise, especially at night, can significantly impair sleep quality, leading to a range of health issues, including stress, fatigue, and decreased cognitive function.

"The ranking emphasises the importance of considering the health impacts of noise in decision-making for new transportation initiatives and urban planning."

The methodology of the study used noise mapping from 2018 from road, rail, and aircraft, along with "literature-informed exposure-response relationships [...] combined with population data on noise exposures, disease, and mortalities."

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