Figures show that the average lifespan between just two wards is nearly ten years difference as people at the coast live longer.

Now, cabinet members at North Tyneside Council have agreed to work with health chiefs on a wellbeing plan aimed at 'closing the gap' between the affluent and deprived wards in the borough.

The council will work with North Tyneside Primary Care Trust to develop a Joint Health and Wellbeing Plan for North Tyneside based on the recommendations by North Tyneside Director of Public Health Vivien Hollyoak.

Data shows that the three biggest challenges are the inequalities in life expectancy, coronary heart disease and deaths from cancer.

Partnerships and services are already in place to tackle these problems, but cabinet members were told at their last meeting that the latest wellbeing plan could build on that.

Life expectancy for men and women is lower in North Tyneside than the national average, but even between St Mary's ward and Riverside, the difference is that men at the coast live on average 9.6 years longer while women live 8.6 years longer.

The borough also has a problem with overweight people, with a residents survey in 2007 showing that 58 per cent of males and 49 per cent of females were overweight.

Cabinet members were also told that alcohol is a major problem, with 25.3 per cent of adults aged over 18 years drinking double the recommended levels, making North Tyneside the eighth highest binge drinking area in England.

A report to cabinet said: "Whilst much progress has been made, much more remains to be done to improve health and in particular to reduce the inequalities gaps which continue to exist between communities within the borough.

"If we are to be successful in improving health and reducing the inequalities gap in North Tyneside, individuals, groups and organisations must all work together."