People who live close to the sea are happier and have better mental health compared those who live inland, a new study has found.

Researchers from the University of Exeter used survey data from 25,963 respondents. After adjusting for other factors, they found that living in large towns and cities the coastline is linked with better mental health for those in the lowest earning households.

The research suggests those who live less than a kilometre from the coast are around 22 per cent less likely to have symptoms of a mental health disorder, than those who live 50km or more away.

Those from low income households less than a kilometre from the coast are around 40 per cent less likely to have symptoms, compared to those earning the same amount living more than 50km away.

The findings add to the growing evidence that access to blue spaces--particularly coastal environments--might improve health and wellbeing.

Around one in six adults in England suffer from mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression, and these are far more likely in people from poorer backgrounds.

Published in the Health and Place journal, the findings suggest access to the coast could help to reduce these health inequalities in towns and cities close to the sea.