SHAMEFUL new statistics show that men living in the poorest areas of Inverclyde die 13 YEARS earlier than their more affluent neighbours.

Despite a recorded rise in overall life expectancy locally over the last 24 years, the gap between different neighbourhoods across the district has failed to close.

New life expectancy figures show that boys born today in the likes of Kilmacolm can expect to live on average to 82.8 years old.

But for those living just a mile away in Port Glasgow, or a little further in Greenock's east end, that falls to 69.5 years old.

Inverclyde's men can also expect to live four and a half years years less than local women.

Council leader Stephen McCabe fears that progress made in life expectancy could be put in danger by year-on-year cuts in public spending.

He said: "After a decade of austerity we might not see the progress of the last 24 years.

"It is in danger of stalling.

"I think this will be reflected in the figures in the next ten years.

"The cuts to the public sector could have an impact.

"Health inequality is of course a big concern for the council and it forms a lot of our strategies with the community planning partnership Inverclyde Alliance."

Like elsewhere in Scotland, life expectancy in Inverclyde has been on the rise over the last two decades.

Councillor McCabe added: "People are definitely leading better lifestyles now.

"Fewer people smoke, more people exercise and there have been medical advances as well.

"Environment and air quality has also improved but there are concerns about the future.

"Funding has been ringfenced in areas like schools but that has knock-on effect in other services in the community and that will have an impact.

"But it is not about diverting money into one area and taking away from another by reducing the performance in one area.

"It is about improving the other areas.

"The issue of funding is fundamental."

The most recent statistics cover 2015-17 and show that the average life expectancy for men in Inverclyde overall is 75.2, compared with only 69.6 from 1991-1993.

This amounts to an eight per cent change.

In the most affluent areas men can expect to live to almost 83 but in the most deprived zones - which make up almost half of all council areas - that tumbles to 69.5, which was the Inverclyde average 24 years ago.

At that time Inverclyde had the second lowest life expectancy for men in Scotland, ranked 30 out of 32.

In the last 24 years that has remained broadly the same, with the area ranked 29th now.

For women, life expectancy in Inverclyde in 2015-17 is 79.7 compared with 75.4 back in 1991.

In the most affluent areas females can expect to live to 87 but this falls to 76.8 in areas classed as the most deprived zones.

Female life expectancy here is ranked 29 out of 32 areas in Scotland, compared with the second lowest in 1991.

Inverclyde's average life expectancy for men is two years lower than the national average, which is 77.

For women the national average is 81.1 and locally it is 79.7.