MORE than 40,000 children in East Lancashire are living in poverty, new figures reveal.

Data from campaign group End Child Poverty show 44,253 children in East Lancashire live in poverty. Figures show Blackburn with Darwen, as a local authority, has the 12th highest level of child poverty in the UK and the highest in East Lancashire.

There are 16,034 children living in poverty in Blackburn with Darwen, which is almost 40 per cent of all children in the borough. Burnley is second highest in East Lancashire with 7,637 children (36.32 per cent) living in poverty — 22nd highest nationally. In third is Pendle, with 7,848 children living in poverty (35.50 per cent).

Fourth is Hyndburn with 6,745 children living in poverty (33.82 per cent), followed by Rossendale in fifth with 4,568 (29.62 per cent).

The lowest borough for children living in poverty is Ribble Valley with 1,421, just 12.9 per cent of all children.

The figures relate to the number of children living in poverty after the cost of housing is taken into consideration.

Campaigners blame the roll-out of new benefit universal credit and low wages for the figures.

Burnley’s MP Julie Cooper said the figures were ‘absolutely shocking’ and branded them a ‘national outrage’. She said: “Changes to universal credit mean families are waiting weeks for payment, leaving them in rent arrears and struggling to put food on the table and pay high energy bills, which is pushing families into foodbanks.

“The majority of people in poverty are working, yet they’re being punished for it. This is a national outrage and the Tory-run government needs to address it and make work pay by introducing a real living wage.”

Janette Pearce, head of income at housing association Together Housing, said they have seen many tenants transfer to universal credit since its roll-out. She said: “We expect that, when full service starts in Blackburn with Darwen in February, more tenants will want support to maintain their tenancies.”

Nichola Wright, assistant director of customer services at Burnley-based Calico Homes, said: “Our customers are actively supported through each step of the universal credit process and we’re working with families who need extra help through a range of activities such as referrals to food banks, toy appeals, holiday clubs, work experience programmes with schools, and employability opportunities.”

Alison Garnham, chief executive of charity Child Poverty Action Group, said: “If universal credit is to play a part in reducing that number, ministers will need to ensure it’s adequately funded and is in good shape for any Blackburn household that needs it.”

Mark Hurst, the boss of Burnley foodbank who runs Spacious Place Engage, said universal credit was one of the main reasons for people being referred to the foodbank.

He said: “When referrals come through they are more often to do with universal credit than other issues.”

Cllr Mohammed Khan, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “There are challenges and issues with poverty in the borough and the council is working very hard to tackle a lot of the inequalities and issues.

"There are millions of pounds of investment taking place with businesses and jobs coming into the borough, and lots of investment into public health and making sure people get the help they need.

"We are striving towards better education for all, better health and more opportunity for all.

“There are many factors that can contribute to children and families living in poverty and some of these are obviously beyond our control but we are striving to make a difference in the areas that we can.

"We are working hard with all our partners to try and make a difference in people’s lives.”

But a government spokesman said 600,000 fewer children are living in workless households.

He said: “The best route out of poverty is through employment, and since 2010 an extra three million more people are now in work. But we recognise that budgets are tight, and that’s why we’re helping families keep more of what they earn. We’ve doubled free childcare, worth £5,000 per child each year, while our £2.5 billion pupil premium programme is supporting two million disadvantaged schoolchildren.”