THE number of pensioner households in Barrow will grow by more than a fifth within 25 years, according to official projections.

There will be 11,933 households where the head of the household is over 65 by 2041, a rise of 22 per cent.

In South Lakeland there's expected to be a rise of 34 per cent to 24,835 households and that figure is 12,723 in Copeland, a rise of 12,273, some 28 per cent.

And the number of households with people with over 85 living there will sky rocket. Barrow will see an 82 per cent (2,256), South Lakeland will have a 98 per cent rise (5,683) and Copeland more than doubling, rising by 105 per cent to 2,455.

Dr Elizabeth Webb, of Age UK, said it was great news that people were living longer. She said that while many would remain independent there would be a growing need for health and social care that could not be fulfilled already.

"The over 85 group is the fastest growing and the most likely to have the greatest needs for social and health care, which has an impact on the health service." Dr Webb said.

"It's about having a person there to help get them out of bed, help them wash and dress and to put a meal on the table. This needs people, not a technological solution.

"The social care workforce is understaffed and there's not enough cash to provide the support that's needed."

Dr Webb added: "Older people today are more likely than future generations to have children to help care for them. In future we'll see more people living alone and more without someone to care for them."

The projections show that the number of younger households in Barrow will fall by 2041. Under 25 households will go down by 22 per cent and the 25-34 age bracket by nine per cent.

In South Lakeland the figures are suggest under 25 households will go down by 16 per cent and the 25-34 age bracket by two per cent.

In Copeland, under 25 households will go down by 34 per cent and the 25-34 age bracket by 16 per cent.

The population is also set to fall. In Barrow, the number of households will fall to 29,055 by 2041, while the population will shrink by 7,631 to 59,186.

In Copeland, the number of households will fall to 28,061 by 2041, while the population will shrink by 7,571 to 60,375.

But in South Lakeland the population will the number of households will climb to 48,775 by 2041, while the population will shrink by 3,091 to 97,501.