A small Kent village has the highest life expectancy in England.

Detling, with a population of 800, has two centenarians living there.

The ward of Detling and Thurnham has an average life expectancy for a woman of 95, in contrast to the national average of 83, according to an article in The Times newspaper.

The village had banned smoking indoors, such as in pubs and workplaces, five years before the national prohibition came into force on July 1, 2007.

The article spotlights Irene Nobbs, 102, one of the two centenarians living at the village's Barty House nursing home.

The retired hairdresser said the secret to her longevity was a good, busy life plus "one glass of rosé every night".

Another resident, Margaret Cooke, 89, is quoted as saying she believes the village's good health is helped by the local covered reservoir with its water filtering through the chalk.

The local GP practice has eight doctors, meaning one per 100 residents, and accepts face-to-face appointments during a time when these have been far scarcer since the pandemic.

Veena Raleigh, a senior fellow at the King's Fund healthcare think tank, is quoted as saying that Detling is not highly affluent but does have low levels of deprivation.

She said people in deprived areas had risk factors such as obesity, smoking and poverty.

She added that longevity has a lot to do with people's histories and habits.

The article said that Detling is seen as having a strong community spirit, which showed itself during the pandemic lockdowns.

The council organised visits for residents under strain with their mental health and neighbours enjoyed daily exercise routines.

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