A public health annual report has been published by Barnsley Council for the first time in almost 40 years.

It is the first report of its kind to be published by the council since the NHS took over management of public health in 1974.

Responsibility for public health returned to the council in April  and a yearly report by the head of the service is a legal requirement.

Sharon Stoltz, the acting director of public health, said: "I've taken the opportunity of the service moving back to the council as the chance to take a long-term view of public health issues in Barnsley.

"I've used the annual reports of my predecessors to learn lessons from the past as we look to the future."

The report shows that while health has improved, there remain lots of challenges, with Barnsley lagging behind the national average.

There are some notable disparities within the borough itself, with life expectancy in women ranging from 88-years-old in Penistone to only 80.5-years-old in the Dearne. There is a similar difference in men, with an 80.5 years life expectancy in Penistone compared to 74.4 years in Wombwell.

Coun Chris Lamb, cabinet spokesman said: "This report shows some huge strides forward have been taken, but that we also have some considerable work to do to address ongoing and underlying issues.

"Smoking remains one of our biggest challenges with one in four adults smoking, although back in 1948 almost three-quarters of men smoked.

"At the same time, only one in eight adults exercise enough, and there are, on average, 116 more deaths in winter than in the rest of the year.

"This report highlights the challenges we all face to reduce the numbers of people dying too early and not living in good health in Barnsley.

"It also tells us that health is everybody's business and that, more than ever, we all have a role to play in improving our well-being and that of our families and communities."