BRIGHTON and Hove has seen a surge in "boomers" living in the city, according to newly published census data.

According to data collected last year, the population of the city aged between 50 and 74 dramatically increased over the last decade, while the number of toddlers living in Brighton and Hove declined by more than a fifth.

The 55-59 age group saw the biggest increase with 46 per cent, followed by those aged between 50 and 54 at 36 per cent and those aged between 70 and 74 at 30 per cent.

Some 14.1 per cent of the city's population are now aged over 65, up from 13.1 per cent a decade ago.

Meanwhile, the population of people aged up to four years old dropped by 22 per cent over the same period.

The population of young adults and middle-aged people also dropped, with the number of residents aged 40 to 44 dropping by 12 per cent.

Overall, Brighton and Hove saw a slight increase in population, with a total of 277,200 people calling the city home - up just 1.4 per cent on 2011.

This was lower than the average increase for the South East of England at 7.5 per cent, with neighbouring Horsham and Mid Sussex seeing their population jump by 11.8 per cent and 9.1 per cent respectively.

Across England, the country’s population increased by 6.6 per cent, with a total of 56.5 million residents.

The 2021 survey, carried out on March 21 last year, came against the backdrop of both Brexit – which has seen restrictions on immigration – and the coronavirus pandemic.

Figures show that the South East remains the most populous region in England with 9.3 million people, followed by London (8.8 million), while the North East was the least populous (2.6 million).

The Office for National Statistics, which carries out the census every ten years, said: “Population change in certain areas may reflect how the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic affected people’s choice of usual residence on census day.

“These changes might have been temporary for some and more long-lasting for others.”