ABOUT 23 per cent more people die in winter than in summer in Oxford, official figures show.

Experts say it is a 'dangerous time' for elderly people, leading to persistent pressure on the NHS.

Every year, more people die in winter than in summer - due to colder temperatures, respiratory diseases and outbreaks of flu.

To measure the impact, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) compares the number of additional deaths between December and March to the rest of the year.

During the winter of 2016-17, the latest period figures are available, there were approximately 60 excess winter deaths in Oxford. This meant 23 per cent more people died during winter in Oxford, compared with the yearly average.

Dr Nick Scriven, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said that the data raised concerns 'as to why there is such variation even between areas in a single region'.

He said: "This data must act as a prompt to those in power to look at these trends and recognise that the capacity of the health service is being stretched beyond all measures in winter.

Oxfordshire has become one of the first areas in the country to appoint a winter director to oversee all health and social care services to help the system cope with this year’s winter pressures.

The ‘winter plan’ brings local NHS trusts, health commissioners and the county council under the same umbrella in an effort to free up capacity across the county’s already-stretched health and social care services.

The Department of Health and Social Care said that the 2017-18 figures 'were likely the result of a combination of flu and cold weather'.

A spokesman said: "We know flu is difficult to predict - that's why this year we have a stronger vaccine for over-65s, and have made more vaccines available than ever before."

According to the ONS, small population sizes can cause a significant amount of year-on-year variation at a local level.