RECENTLY released figures suggest 35 per cent of children in the North-East are living in poverty.

Annual figures published by the Department for Work and Pensions showed that the number of children living in poverty across the country rose from 4.1 million in 2017/18 to 4.2 million in 2018/19 – meaning that around 30 per cent of all children and young people in the UK are growing up poor.

While the latest regional and local child poverty estimates were not due to be published until May, close to 210,000 children in the North-East were living poverty in 2017/18. That number is expected to be higher for 2018/19.

Chairwoman of the North East Child Poverty Commission, Jane Streather, said: “The figures show that not only has child poverty continued to rise to record levels in one of the largest economies in the world, but just how many families were already struggling to make ends meet even before the coronavirus pandemic hit our economy.

“The current crisis threatens to make this unacceptable situation even worse, as it will clearly have a devastating impact on many family incomes and potentially cause irreparable damage to children and young people affected. The Government urgently needs to step up and go much further to support low income families through this unprecedented situation.”