HEALTH chiefs have been warned of the challenges facing Bolton as the population ages and the age at which people rises.

James Mallion, special registrar in public health, addressed the Health and Wellbeing committee on some of the key findings in the Public Health Annual Report for 2017.

The report puts a special emphasis on good work and good health - and how the former is linked to the latter.

The paper records how Bolton’s employment rate for those of working age stands at 70 per cent - significantly worse than the national average.

Of the 42,300 people who are inactive, 28 per cent are out of work due to sickness, but 35 per cent would like a job.

During 2015-16 £108m in out of work benefits were paid out to 18,990 claimants. But the average benefit to the Bolton economy when a claimant moves on to a job that pays the living wage, is £14,436

Mr Mallion told the committee: “There’s a role for the NHS and for the wider public sector to create an environment of good jobs and ensuring more people have good health to enable them to take them.