SOUTH Gloucestershire has been named the sixth best place in the country to retire.

The district tied with Wokingham, Hampshire, Monmouthshire and Poole in Dorset for the number six spot in figures produced by finance company and retirement specialists Prudential.

All four regions were awarded the place with a retirement index score of 41 out of 50.

Dorset came first in the figures and North Somerset also featured in the top 10.

Vince Smith-Hughes, retirement expert at Prudential, said: “Our analysis clearly shows that the quality of life experienced by retirees varies significantly across the country. However, it is not always possible for people to up sticks and move to a location they consider to be more desirable, when the time comes to give up work. Family ties and the cost of moving home often dictate where people find themselves living as pensioners.

“People looking to secure a retirement in an area where the quality of life is already high, or those simply looking to be as financially comfortable as possible when they give up work, are well advised to follow the simple rule of saving as much as possible as early as possible in their working lives.

“The decisions that retirees are faced with can be the biggest they will ever have to make. To take best advantage of the newly introduced flexible retirement income choices, professional financial advice should form a vital part of preparation for retirement.”

South Gloucestershire scored highly with 55 per cent of pensioners said to be in good health, 50 per cent were married and 73 per cent had passports. The district’s retired population consists of 11 per cent who provide unpaid care to loved ones and 83 per cent own their own homes.

The South West of England holds four of the top ten ranking areas.

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AW