IN NUMBERS…

Jul 16 2008 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

THE Commission for Rural Communities report revealed that:

Only 74% of householders live within 4km of a bank or building society, compared to 99.8% in urban areas.

The proportion living within 4km of an NHS dentist is 78.8% (100% in urban areas).

And 77.3% live within 4km of a secondary school (compared with 100%).

And at just 18% Northumberland has one of the lowest proportions of degree students returning to live and work in the county.

The report found that wages in rural North East England continue to be low, levels of unemployment are among the country’s highest and levels of fuel poverty in some areas were among the highest in England.