Local deprivation 'increasing'

Nearly half of all communities in England are lacking key public services, according to figures from Oxford University.

Some 14,493 neighbourhoods out of 32,439 have been affected by the closure of doctors' surgeries, post offices, shops and schools in recent years.

A report posted on the Department of Communities and Local Government website pointed to areas which had become more "geographically deprived".

It examined the impact of post offices and measured how long residents would need to travel to see a GP. The North East had the greatest percentage of highly deprived areas, followed by the North West.

The report also said that wealthy areas such as the South East were becoming more deprived.

Researchers ranked every neighbourhood using a "multiple deprivation" index, finding that Bridestowe, Devon, experienced the most severe lack of basic services in England, with Wrotham in Kent the most "excluded" community in the South East.

Gospel Oak in Camden, north London, was considered to have the best access to local services in England.

Shadow communities secretary Eric Pickles said: "Under Labour, local neighbourhoods and villages are losing access to essential local services, as shops, pubs and schools close at probably their fastest rate ever. We are witnessing the slow death of community life.

"Thanks to policies cooked up in Whitehall, more local post offices, schools and GP surgeries are now shutting their doors forever.

"This is yet another sign of a government that has lost touch with the British people, of Labour politicians and Whitehall bureaucrats having no interest in the needs of local communities."