Child poverty total nears three million

ALMOST 200,000 more children were living in poverty last year, it was claimed yesterday.

The number has risen by a third since 2010, according to an alliance of housing federations. It blamed spiralling rents and mortgage costs.

Another, separate, analysis showed a record 2.9million children from working families are living in poverty after housing costs have been paid.

The Government figures mean 70 per cent of all poor children were in working families last year, up from 67 per cent on the previous year. This is despite record employment levels.

Those in poverty are also getting younger, with 53 per cent of poor children aged under five.

A spokesman for the Department of Work and Pensions said: ‘We take these numbers extremely seriously. ‘We are looking at what more can be done to help the most vulnerable.’

Kate Henderson, of the National Housing Federation, which represents social housing providers, said: ‘We are now seeing the full effects of the housing crisis and a direct link between the lack of affordable homes and in-work poverty.’