Britain has most over-60s in EC

Britain has the highest number of over-60s in the European Community, according to the EC's statistical office. Nearly 21 per cent of Britons - 11,931,000 - are over 60. The average British male has a life expectancy of 77.6 years compared with 75 in 1960, while women are expected to live until 81.7 compared with 78.9.

In the last 30 years the number of over-60s in the EC has risen by almost 50 per cent, from 46.5 million to 68.6 million.