STOCKPORT has one of the largest gaps between rich and poor anywhere in England.

The borough came seventh in a league table of the widest range in poverty levels, according to the "Index of Multiple Deprivation", which studied areas of about 1,500 people and analysed their incomes, healthcare, and education, alongside crime and living environment.

The study, using some of the data from the 2001 census - which found Stockport the most average borough in the country - gave the nation's 32,482 areas a ranking. Stockport's most deprived area was 467 while its least deprived was 32,040.

None of the areas in Stockport was as deprived as the worst in Manchester, which had 21 of the 100 poorest parts in Britain.

Unusual

But the gap between the most and least deprived was 31,574 places, which put the borough in seventh place for polarised deprivation in a table headed by Leeds.

Stockport is unusual in having small pockets of hardship while most other towns and cities have entire wards which are deprived.

Now Stockport councillors and officials have set up a working party to study the effects of the extreme differences in living standards.

There are concerns that the extremes could lead to segregated communities, more expensive public services, increased crime, hostility and areas developing a negative reputation.

A spokesman for the authority said: "It is characteristic of Stockport that citizens experiencing the most financial and social disadvantage live in relatively small pockets.

"This is unlike most cities and towns where the difficulties are concentrated in whole wards and is a reason why Stockport does not attract significant amounts of government funding to help address the issues.

"Research is to be done into the effects. Discussions will then be held with areas sharing similar experience so that actions can be taken to deal with any particular problems brought about by this."