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THE South West has the highest proportion of pensioners in the UK, according to the latest regional trend figures released by the Office for National Statistics.

About 22 per cent of the population is of pension age or over, with 34 per cent of households receiving retirement pensions, compared to a national average of 30 per cent, based on figures for 2005/6.

However, employment in the South West was also high, with 78 per cent of people of working age in employment in the second quarter of 2007, one of the highest figures for any UK region, compared with the UK average of 74 per cent.

The total recorded crime rate in the South West was 8,600 per 100,000 population, compared with a UK rate of 10,300.

The South West was also the most popular UK visitor destination for UK residents in 2005 with 21 million trips and £3.6 billion spent.

Regional Trends is an annual report which paints a statistical picture of areas within the UK. The information gathered aids decision-making at local, national and European level.

Other key statistics for the South West in Regional Trends include:

• Households in the South West spent the least on clothing and footwear per week from 2003/04 to 2005/06 of any UK region - £21 compared with a UK average of £23
• Between 1993 and 2006 traffic on major roads in the South West increased by 31 per cent, the largest increase in Great Britain
• More people walked to work in the South West in 2006 than in any other region - 12 per cent compared with the UK average of 11 per cent

6:10pm Thursday 8th May 2008

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