NEW data revealed in the 2021 census shows that one in twenty people living in Copeland and Allerdale are an armed forces veteran.

A snapshot of England and Wales taken in March last year has already given us a much better picture of the make-up of our population.

And for the first time in 2021, census respondents were asked whether they had previously served in the UK armed forces in a bid to improve the treatment of veterans across the two nations through better data.

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show 3,054 people in Copeland said they were a veteran at the time of the census – 6 per cent of usual residents aged 16 and over.

Of them, 2,384 had served in the regular UK armed forces and 562 as a reserve.

3,985 people in Allerdale said they were a veteran at the time of the census – 5 per cent of usual residents aged 16 and over.

READ MORE: Veteran, 97, reunited with military vehicle she drove in Second World War

Of them, 3,097 had served in the regular UK armed forces and 702 as a reserve.

National statistician Sir Ian Diamond said: “For the first time our data is able to show the vast scale of our armed forces community, which is vital information to help direct support and services where they are needed most.

“Perhaps unsurprisingly a large proportion of our veterans live or are located near military establishments, suggesting they tend to stay in the same areas after they have left service.”

Charles Byrne, director general of the Royal British Legion, said the data will "transform" understanding of the veteran population.

“It will surprise many people to learn that, until today, nobody knew exactly how many veterans there were in England and Wales or where they lived,” he said.

READ MORE: One in 25 adults in England and Wales served in armed forces, 2021 figures show