BRIGHTON and Eastbourne have two of the healthiest high streets in the country, according to a new report.

A “healthy” mix of social hubs, cultural venues and health outlets ranked Brighton as the seventh healthiest high street among 70 across the UK.

Eastbourne was one ranking below at number eight, three years after it was named as having one of the country’s most unhealthy high streets.

The report by the Royal Society for Public Health called Health On The High Street found those living in the top ten healthy areas lived an average of two and a half years longer than those with the ten unhealthiest high streets.

Points were given for pubs, bars and coffee shops, dentists, opticians and pharmacies, leisure centres, museums, galleries and libraries, and vape shops.

They were deducted for “unhealthy” businesses such as betting shops, payday lenders, fast food outlets, off licences, tanning salons and empty shops.

Brighton and Hove City Council is “continuing to work on making this a healthier city for all”.

A spokesman said: “We know the urban environment and access to local services has a massive impact on people’s choices so it’s encouraging to see that we’ve been included in this list.”

The findings are no surprise for the people of Eastbourne, said Councillor Jonathan Dow, lead cabinet member for place services at Eastbourne Council.

He said: “Eastbourne town centre is undergoing a once in a lifetime transformation. The centrepiece is the £85 million redevelopment of the Arndale Shopping Centre, which will bring 22 more shops to the town plus an eight-screen cinema and restaurants.”

Stephen Holt, business development manager at Eastbourne’s Chamber of Commerce UnLtd and a member of the town centre’s management agency, described the findings as “fantastic”.

He said: “Three years ago, the report ranked Eastbourne as having one of the unhealthiest high streets and my suspicion is that it was unfair. Eastbourne is in a transformational stage and it’s very exciting. As one of the sunniest towns in the UK, why would you not love this town?”

The findings come in the wake of the Chancellor Philip Hammond’s announcement in the autumn budget of several measures aimed at helping ailing high street shops facing decimation by their online rivals.