MALVERN is set to become the ageing capital of the UK with rocketing numbers of elderly residents.

Almost one in 10 people in the Malvern Hills district will be aged 85 or over by 2037 – more than double the current number of four per cent.

This will hand the area the title of the oldest population of any local authority in the UK, joint with North Norfolk at 9.6 per cent.

The dramatic increase predicted by the Office of National Statistics will pose real challenges for the area, according to one charity boss.

George Waugh, chief executive of Age UK Malvern and District, said: “It is going to be a challenge but it does not come as any surprise – the region’s population has been ageing for several years.

“The challenge will be trying to keep the elderly as fit as possible to allow them to stay in their own homes and live full, independent lives.

“We will do our best to continue providing services for the elderly.

“Purse strings are getting tightened and people need to understand that services do not come cheaply. We have to find the funding somewhere.”

West Worcestershire’s MP however has backed the government’s measures to support an ageing population and even quipped fresh air and good well-being could be behind Malvern’s demographics.

Harriet Baldwin said: “West Worcestershire does have an above average aged population.

“The quality of life, the air and the water must all help.

“In addition to national measures like a better, simpler, triple-locked pension, a higher pension age, a cap in the cost of care and more money for the NHS, we also have made progress locally.

“This has included building a new community hospital and new extra care housing

“The Conservative Party has also pledged to maintain free prescriptions, bus passes, television licences and winter fuel allowances for older people if we win a majority at the next election."

Malvern Hills is predicted to have the oldest population in Worcestershire in 2037 but other areas will see similar age profile changes.

In Worcester the number of residents aged 85 or over will increase from 2.1 per cent in 2015 to 4.4 per cent in 2037 while in Wychavon figures will more than double from 3.3 per cent to 7.6 per cent.