Thousands of parents across the North East say they have rationed their heating in the last year as many admit getting in to debt each month, a new survey has revealed.

The findings, which were gathered under the National Parent Survey, reveal that 4 in 10 parents (40%) in the North East have rationed their heating in the past year due to the cost of living crisis.

This equates to around 163,000 children living in damp and cold homes, as almost 3 in 10 (27%) say they get into debt each month to pay bills.

Just under 5,000 parents from across the region responded to the survey, which also found that some parents were struggling to afford the cost of sending their children to school.

Other areas that were examined included the amount of screen time children have after school as many parents reported it caused issues with tiredness or sleep and behavioural issues.

Commenting on the National Parenting Survey, Parentkind CEO Jason Elsom said: "This large scale parent survey is an important insight into what is really going on with families across the UK and what parents really think.

"Too many parents tell us they are unhappy most of the time, with parent mental health concerns a big worry, parents are missing work because they are suffering with mental health problems.

"Many parents are struggling to make ends meet and have only a few hundred pounds left in the bank for a rainy day. It’s no wonder the cost of school worries parents, with all the little extras adding up.

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"The amount of time children spend on screens is once again a big issue for parents and the National Parent Survey shows it is having a big impact on family life causing disagreements as some children are now spending 7 hours a day on smartphones and tablets and it is stopping them from sleeping and ruining family time.

"The National Parent Survey is one of the biggest parent polls in Britain and is a wake up call to policy makers to put parents first, listen to their concerns and make life better for parents, we’ve put forward a plan to make this happen based on the voice of parents from across Britain."