STAR Trek's Mr Spock would always tell his friends: "Live long and prosper". But sci-fi fans never got to hear the second part of his advice: "Move to Ryedale".

Naturally, the pointy-eared Vulcan is right. Ryedale is the third healthiest region in Britain, based on the number of its residents who live into ripe old age. By our (admittedly partisan) calculations, Ryedale should be number one. After all, the two boroughs ahead of Ryedale are both in London.

Why live longer than anyone else if you squander your extra years in the smelly, noisy capital, rather than relaxing in restful Ryedale? That would be illogical, captain.

Updated: 11:46 Thursday, July 03, 2003