MORE children in Darlington and County Durham were living in poverty during the first full year of the coronavirus pandemic than ever recorded before, figures show.

The Department for Work and Pensions data shows that 26,322 children in County Durham and 5,732 children in Darlington aged under 16 were living in families with low income in 2020 to 2021.

This an estimated 28.5 per cent of all youngsters in the area.

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It was up from 26 per cent the year before, and the highest since comparable records began 2014-15.

Child poverty charities warn that the Government’s response to the cost of living crisis risks reversing the fall in the number of children living below the breadline across the UK.

Of the children aged 0 to 15 in poverty in County Durham last year, 8,038 (31 per cent) were aged below five.

There were also 5,572 young people aged 16 to 19 in low income families.

Meanwhile, of the majority of youngsters aged 0 to 19, 70 per cent were in working households.

Of the children aged 0-15 in poverty in Darlington last year, 1,718 (30 per cent) were aged below five

There were also 1,257 young people aged 16-19 in low income families.

Meanwhile, the majority of youngsters aged 0-19, 74%, were in working households.

A family is defined as in low income if it earns less than 60 per cent of the national median household income before housing costs of considered.

Families are included in the figures if they have claimed child benefit alongside another means of support, such as Universal Credit, tax credits or housing benefit, at some point in the year.

Different figures, which take housing costs into account, show that 3.9 million UK children were living in relative poverty in 2020-21

This was down from 4.3 million the year before, but still above the 3.6 million in 2010 to 2011.

The Child Poverty Action Group said this fall shows the UK Government has the power to protect children from poverty.

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Alison Graham, chief executive of the charity, said many children who were “lifted out of poverty” by the £20 increase to Universal Credit “have already been forced back over the brink by Government actions.”

She added: “And as millions struggle with spiralling costs, we know the picture will worsen."

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