THE number of births in Oxfordshire has fallen from 7,867 in 2013 to 7,352 in 2017, while the annual number of death rose from 5,355 to 5,499.

New figures show the fertility rate in the county fell from an average of 1.78 children per women to 1.7 in 2017.

The ONS statistics show the number of births had risen from 2013 to 2015 before the rate began to fall.

The years 2016 to 2017 saw the largest drop in births over the four-year period.

The county figures echo the national trend, with 679,106 live births in England and Wales in 2017, down 2.5 per cent from 2016 and the lowest number of live births since 2006.

The area in Oxfordshire which saw the largest drop in births was Oxford.

The city had 1,919 births in 2013 compared to 1,624 in 2017, a fall of around 15 per cent.

Cherwell district in northern Oxfordshire saw the number of births rise slightly from 1,777 to 1789 as did Vale of White Horse (1,380 to 1,412).

South Oxfordshire (1,548 to 1,540) and West Oxfordshire (1,243 to 1,033) each saw a decline in the number of babies born.

All Oxfordshire districts saw a slight rise in the number of deaths, apart from Vale of White Horse with the number in that area falling from 1,092 to 1,034.

The fall in births and the rise in deaths comes as the county is expected to deliver 100,000 news homes by 2031 in a Government deal worth £215m in funding.

Based on plans for housing growth, Oxfordshire County Council is forecasting the Oxfordshire population to increase by 27 per cent in the next 13 years.

According to the latest council figures, the number of residents is expected to increase by 187, 500 people between 2016 and 2031, taking the population from 687,900 to 874,400.

Local councils hope to attract new residents by supporting job creation.