A MIXED picture of rural life is painted by the latest statistics published by DEFRA.

The 2013 Statistical Digest of Rural England includes details about a range of social and economic subject areas.

The latest edition of the digest includes updates on fuel poverty, population, expenditure, broadband, earnings and enterprise.

Statistics are split by rural and urban areas, allowing for comparisons between different rural and urban area classifications

The digest includes high level statistics which present an overall picture for England, with considerable variation likely in individual towns, villages and hamlets.

The digest starts with a section on the rural and urban populations in England.

This is followed by a range of subjects, including social issues such as housing, broadband, crime and education.

An economic section contains indicators on productivity, earnings and economic activity, as well as a selection of indicators relating to economic growth.

The full digest can be downloaded here.