One in eight children in Maldon are "living in relative poverty", new figures have revealed.

Department for Work and Pensions figures show 1,345 children in Maldon were living in relative poverty in the year ending in April 2022.

It meant 12.4 per cent of children in the area were in a family whose income was below 60 per cent of the average household income and claimed child benefit and at least one other household benefit.

Of those, 1,020 were in "absolute poverty" as their family's income was lower than 60 per cent of the average income established in 2010-2011 – accounting for almost one in ten children in the area.

But overall, it was down from 12.6 per cent of children who were living in poverty in 2020-21 and down from 12.8 per cent in 2014-15 when comparable records began.

Across the UK, 2.47 million children - 20 per cent - were living in relative poverty and 1.89 million children - 15.3 per cent - were in absolute poverty.

Save the Children UK said the latest figures are "grim" and prove families are "still very much in the depths of a crisis” as inflation increases.

Spokesman Becca Lyon said children living in poverty often grow up too fast because they are exposed to concerns about money and paying bills.

She said: "This can leave lasting scars. Families need a proper benefits system that protects them from hardship, and means children can grow up without having to know what the inside of a food bank looks like.”

Imran Hussain, director of policy and campaigns at Action for Children, said: “It’s astonishing that, despite the pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis and the prospect of rising child poverty for years to come, the Government is not targeting help for children in low-income families.

“There is so much more this Government can do in these tough times to stop those with the least from suffering the most.”

A Government spokesman said they are “committed to eradicating poverty and supporting those in need, and our actions have helped ensure there are nearly two million fewer people in absolute poverty than there were in 2009-10”.

They said the latest figures “reflect the country coming out of the pandemic and accompanying rising prices” and that record levels of support have been provided through cost-of-living payments, the Household Support Fund and the Energy Price Guarantee which “will continue to hold down people’s energy bills”.